Medieval Parchment Pouch – Fragment Of A 14th-century Construction Ledger – Manuscript

An exceptional wallet crafted from fragments of medieval manuscripts, including a remarkable parchment on vellum from an account book related to a construction project.

The main document, written in medieval French, provides valuable insight into the organization of a major construction project in the Middle Ages. It includes an inventory of the materials needed for the work, among which are mentioned “bags of coal,” “sheets of lead,” planks, and various supplies. The accounts are organized by work weeks, with entries such as “The week of Saint Denis.”

The text also mentions several craftsmen, including “ Jehan le Breton, mason”, who worked in particular on the “bell tower and windows ”, offering a particularly vivid glimpse into the trades and organization of medieval construction sites. Despite research, it has not been possible to identify with certainty the building in question (church, cathedral, castle, or other significant structure), nor to specify the exact date of composition. However, the handwriting allows us to date this document to the 14th century, or at the latest to the early 15th century.

The inside of the cover consists of other fragments of medieval manuscripts, also reused: a fragment of vellum decorated with red initials, as well as a fragment of paper bearing worn Gothic script.

While the majority of cases where medieval manuscripts were reused in bookbindings and everyday objects date from the 16th and 17th centuries, this example appears to be significantly older. The exclusively medieval nature of the fragments used suggests that this pouch was made as early as the late Middle Ages, likely in the 15th or early 16th century—shortly after the manuscripts themselves were written.

The entire piece is edged with an elegant green linen cord, which is the original.

Dimensions: 12.5 × 17.5 cm.

A rare piece that offers a particularly vivid glimpse into daily life at major medieval construction sites, bringing together the history of architecture, writing, and the reuse of manuscripts in a highly authentic object.

Price does not include shipping

Police Registry Ref.: A154

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