ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT, BREVIARY, France, second half of the 15th century.

(BREVIARY), Incipit breviarium secundum usum ecclesie beatissimi prothomartiris Stephani divisionensis primo. Sabbato in prima dominica adventus domini ... Illuminated manuscript on vellum in Latin and French, France, most likely Dijon, second half of the 15th century.

Lacking 60-70 leaves the end, but complete in the beginning. Size of leaves: c. 158x113 mm, text c. 110x76 mm, lines in lead mine. Text in gothic characters on double column of 34 lines.
Last page at bottom with signature of former Bezitzer, Jehan Tabourot Therefore most likely the manuscript presented itself in its current state already in the 16th-century.
18th-century calf binding, gilt spine, red title label, restored and remounted, title label "Forma Cleri", marbled edges.
Manuscript in fine condition, only very minor spots.
Text: Breviary for the use of the Cathedral of Saint Stephanus at Dijon
Begins with the Saturday of the first Sunday of the Advent and ends with the rites and prayers of the Holy Saturday, remaining parts presumably missing since the 16th-century.

Decoration: Three miniatures on bottom of pages surrounded by phytomorph decorations and another page with phytomorph border and large letter "P". Numerous smaller decorated letterheads in gold on red or blue background with filigran decoration in white or gold, red or alternating in blue, complete the ornaments.

Subjects: C1, two angels holding a coat-of-arms (from the Marey family, Burgundy)
C2, Saint Hieronymus in front of the Holy Cross
C7verso, Saint Gregory`s mass
C22, phytomorph border

PROVENANCE: Jehan Tabourot (or Thoinot Arbeau), (Dijon, 1519-1595, Langres, France), French cleric, who spent most of his life as a member of the clergy at Langres Cathedral. Thoinot Arbeau who is most famous for his Orchésographie, a study of late sixteenth-century French Renaissance dance published 1588. Thoinot Arbeau is the anagrammatic pen name of his name Jehan Tabourot.

See text. Not complete, lacking ca 60-70 leaves at the end.