[Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum] The Making of Viola

[Thompson, Francis.] The Making of Viola. England, 1920s (very likely Leicester). Illuminated manuscript on vellum of Thompson’s lyric beginning “Spin, daughter Mary, spin…,” the text written in a formal Gothic hand in black ink with sectional headings in burnished gold. Opening leaf with a stunning large illuminated initial S in red and burnished gold with lattice diapering and white heightening; small roundel in raised gold at the end of the text showing a child’s profile within a red rayed nimbus. Contemporary full vellum wraps, upper cover titled in a neat hand “The Making of Viola”. 4pp (two vellum leaves). Vellum leaves loose in wraps, mottling and handling to vellum wraps, scattered foxing and some offsetting to the text leaves, along with some small marks. Measures approx. 16" x 9.5".

Purchased together with the companion illuminated manuscript of 1 John 4:7–21 made for Dr. Gertrude E. Austin of Leicester and dated June 1923; the lettered vellum bindings, palette, raised gilding, and hand align, suggesting execution by the same calligrapher or workshop.