Assuming "hidden" messages, a circular crown would be too obvious.
But... the idea of grafting is also interesting, except it's usually the stalk that is grafted (I've actually done this with fruit trees) and those stringy arched things between the upper plant and lower roots don't make a lot of sense in the context of grafting.
Also, I wouldn't know how to interpret rows of spikes that point in both directions on the host stalk (the one that provides the root and stalk for the graft) because they don't look anything like that at all (they don't usually come in long rows or point down).
I'm not opposed to the idea of grafting (VMS-wise I'm open to almost anything), but having done grafting on a few different kinds of plants, I don't recognize any of this as similar in overall composition.
Hi JKP,
"it's usually the stalk that is grafted": yes that's why I was specifically referring to root grafting,which was known and practiced in the middle ages, although much less so nowadays.
Interestingly, there may be a tie in between the idea of grafting and the theological points raised in this thread : in medieval times, the grafted tree was a metaphor for the Passion.
See reference You are not allowed to view links.
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(05-12-2017, 02:00 PM)VViews Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view....
Interestingly, there may be a tie in between the idea of grafting and the theological points raised in this thread : in medieval times, the grafted tree was a metaphor for the Passion.
...
Very interesting link, VViews, in both the Web-link sense and also in the theological/Passion/grafting sense. There's also a tie-in to numbers (especially threes).
So I was looking through early manuscripts while researching a blog post, and I came across an image of a lamp which subconsciously reminded me of a VM plant. Upon going through them, I was surprised to see that it was not f22v, but rather its reverse, f22r. Quite a coincidence to have two candelabra-like plants on the same folio.
Anyway, this one stood out to me because of the "umbrella" shape halfway down the shaft. Also, the cup-shape of the lamps themselves, and the general layout of the branches is reflected in the plant.
The image is from the Augustine Gospels, (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, Lib. MS. 286) "an illuminated Gospel Book which probably dates from the 6th century. It is traditionally considered to be one of the volumes brought by St. Augustine of Canterbury to England in 587. The book was probably given to St. Augustine by the pope St. Gregory the First." (Wiki)
The MS is not generous with superfluous decorations, so my guess is that the "umbrella" had some function, I don't know what it is though.
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The scene itself is Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, "Iesus lauit pedes discipulorum".
If you continue the idea of Koen and consider bifolio 19-22, then on plants that are on the same side of bifolio, you can find the same properties of plants. You are not allowed to view links.
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Login to view. are essentially a "dioecious" plant (simultaneously two species of different inflorescences). You are not allowed to view links.
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Login to view. the same structure of petioles of leaves (broom).
Well spotted Wladimir, I think you are right. This reminds me of the hypothesis that certain parts of the VM were originally more like bifolio size "posters". Or maybe this was originally the centre of a quire. It would be interesting to check more bifolios for such cohesion.
It's a hypothesis that's hard to test because presumably not all plants come in groups of four. There are clearly other cases of grouping by plant structure though. Compare for example You are not allowed to view links.
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Login to view. . But then looking at the bifolio, one might say that You are not allowed to view links.
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There's definitely order in the plant section. Unfortunately, it also appears as though folios have been shuffled. I've been trying to sort them out for quite a while, with slow (sometimes painfully slow) progress.
It is curious that on page f19r, which is on the united bifolio 19-22, two opposite spikes are also drawn. And the general structure of the plant 19r is similar to the three-tiered candelabrum.
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Both You are not allowed to view links.
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Login to view. have very "architectural" looking bases. They are certainly not natural structures, and You are not allowed to view links.
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Login to view. even has an extra hook turned in toward the stalk (if it were naturalistic, it might mean a lost leaf, but it doesn't quite look naturalistic either).
The base of 22r almost reminds me of a entranceway in a building or, if one thinks smaller, of a reliquary (with the inside part intended to hold something if it were made of glass or rock crystal).
It makes me think of plants that are strewn in ceremonies, used as crowns, or which are burned as incense for memorials, coronations, and other special occasions.
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Found on this site, with the following description:
Quote:1430 (ca.). German History Bible. Title: "Deutsche Historienbibel, altes und neues Testament". Made in Hagenau (Alsace, Elsass) by Diebold Lauber (1427-1471). This Menorah not only has a wrong shape, it also has 2 arms too much. Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Darmstadt: Hs 1. Source: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.