Golden Gospel

Jeweled upper cover of the Lindau Gospels, ca. 880
Court School of Charles the Bald
On: Lindau Gospels, in Latin
Switzerland, Abbey of St. Gall, late ninth century
350 x 275 mm
Morgan Library & Museum
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1901

Moving a "few" hundred years ago... a gorgeously decorated book cover. I went looking for an illuminated manuscript (which one surely will pop up here sooner or later) I came across this book cover, the illumination not just hidden within. Link through the title to the Morgan's website and you can zoom into the image (and more!) to fantastic detail. The cover is for the Lindau Gospel and is made of finely worked gold, sapphires, garnets, emeralds, pearls and more. "Scholars believe that the architecture of the frame may allude to the jeweled city of the Heavenly Jerusalem." (Met Museum Press Release).

Check out some pages of the Manuscript.

The Morgan is one of my favorite library/museums. Full of treasures, its commitment is not only preserving the collection of financier Pierpont Morgan but developing the collection through continued collecting. Definitely put it on your itinerary the next time you're in nyc.