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Medieval Book Production

Medieval Book Production

By Luke Horbey

Lustre: Spiritual Treasures and Sensory Pleasures (University of Houston, Texas, 2005)

Introduction: The medieval manuscript served many functions above and beyond those of the modern book. It not only transmitted information and cultural values in a variety of fields, but it also served as a valuable objet d’art itself. Books could have incredible wealth and value and at one point were well beyond the means of the average person. The creation of religious books glorified the patron as well as God, whether the text was a private devotional, like a book of hours, or a text for mass display and worship services, like a psalter. Other works served a practical function and contained chronicles of rulers and medical texts. Despite their functional variety, all of these manuscripts shared a common history and origin of production.

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