- A rare King Arthur manuscript from the medieval era is set to be auctioned at Christie’s on July 8.
- The manuscript, which dates back to 1290-1310, is expected to fetch up to $2.7 million.
- This unique manuscript, adorned with 126 illustrations, has never been publicly displayed before.
LONDON — A rare medieval manuscript, which offers an early rendition of the legendary tales of King Arthur and Merlin, is set to be auctioned this summer. This manuscript, which has been privately owned for approximately 700 years, is a unique piece of history.
The manuscript, illuminated and dating back to the 13th or 14th century, is one of the earliest known documents to recount the legendary tale of King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail. It is expected to fetch up to $2.7 million.
The Clermont-Tonnerre Grail, written between 1290 and 1310, is the star attraction of the upcoming Valuable Books and Manuscripts auction at Christie’s in July.
The manuscript, written in Old French, is part of the Lancelot-Grail cycle. It is valued between £1.5 million ($2 million) and £2 million ($2.7 million). The manuscript is written on vellum and adorned with gold leaf, featuring 126 “vivid illustrations” of the legendary tale that has inspired countless books, films, and academic debates, according to Eugenio Donadoni, director of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts at Christie’s.
The illustrations include depictions of Merlin the magician transforming into various forms and tales of King Arthur and his knights.
The manuscript has never been publicly displayed or studied in depth, according to the auction house.
Donadoni told CNN in an email that this “virtually unknown” manuscript is likely to attract significant interest when it goes up for sale.
“This is a rediscovered manuscript of one of the greatest of all medieval romances: the story of the Holy Grail, Merlin, the young King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table, texts fundamental to Western culture,” he said. He added that only three such manuscripts are privately owned, and this is the earliest.
Donadoni also mentioned that the auction house has detailed provenance for the manuscript, showing a long line of previous owners.
Previous owners include a 15th-century knight, a jouster, an “obsessive medievalist,” and a 20th-century industrialist named Jean Lebaudy, who was awarded two “croix de guerre” for his “heroic deeds in both World Wars.”
While the current owner of the manuscript remains unidentified, Donadoni revealed that it comes from a “long-standing private collection.”
“There are so many appealing aspects to this manuscript: historical, art-historical, textual, and cultural,” he said. “There’s the Christian element – the Quest for the Holy Grail; the chivalric element: the adventures, the quests, the jousts, the battles.”
Donadoni believes the sale is likely to attract a wide range of potential bidders.
“It should interest institutions because it’s a virtually unknown manuscript of one of the greatest medieval romances, but it could also interest private buyers for the same reasons that it appealed to the long line of owners who have treasured it over the course of the past 700 years.”
He added: “It has been a privilege to have been able to work on a manuscript of this rarity and caliber: the stories are universal and it has so much still to offer in terms of research and enjoyment. As Merlin himself prophesies in the text itself: ‘And the story will forever be told and gladly heard for as long as the world lasts’.”
The auction will take place at Christie’s in London on July 8.
Disagree – That belongs in a museum, not for sale.