f67r2 outer band

[R. Sale]

One of the basic patterns is a quatrefoil. There is some variation in how they are constructed - whether it's a straight line or a loop, whether there is a dot in the middle or not. It's one of a number of patterns that were used in the old artistic era when they 'didn't do' background scenery.

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So, the VMs artist is just playing with the old quatrefoil - blowing extra bubbles - adding extra side bars. There are other loop quatrefoils on f67v1 paired with text segments. There are three elaborately decorated versions in the VMs zodiac and two regular ones in the central rosette, plus f67r1.

The purpose of this early design band is to attract attention and to create distraction and disguise through oversaturation. Hiding visual elements on a page with 15th Century technology is not easy. If something is unique, it may draw attention. However, if the hidden elements were part of a larger group, a set of meaningless, background designs, then perhaps they might pass unnoticed (by some), which is the point of their being hidden in the first place - like VMs White Aries and the central rosette and the VMs cosmos (a unique pattern) and so on.