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f67r2 outer band
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f67r2 outer band
Ember > 03-01-2026, 06:50 AM
In f67r2 (see Beinecke scan You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) there is a detailed band around the presumed zodiac chart, which has a discontinuous/inconsistent pattern of blocks that I would assume has some symbolic purpose. I searched a bit but haven't found any discussion about it.
The ring is partially obscured by a damaged edge on the left side of the page. There are 44 blocks visible, but based on the consistent width of each block the diagram should have had exactly 50. There are minimally seven distinct types of blocks, mostly the same for each type, but with some distinctions.
Is there anything similar in other manuscripts? Does any of this stand out as familiar symbolism to anyone more knowledgable?
The outer band of f67r2:
The four quadrants of the band, unrolled for easier viewing:
The various block types:
(There are three instances of the "bubble" type, but only one of them is clear. The top-right and center-right instances are both visually difficult to parse. There are either mistakes/imperfections in each, or both of those have different bars on the edges than the top left bubble block. There are also three small ink dots within one of the pins blocks in the bottom right, which is unique and possibly intentional.)
Also of interest is that the number of separating "bars" between each block varies around the ring, in threes and fours, possibly a single five in the top right, and a single two in the bottom center (possibly a mistake? in that block one of the two center 'spikes' is floating, which is unique)
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RE: f67r2 outer band
Stefan Wirtz_2 > 03-01-2026, 02:29 PM
Yes, fine workout about the few decorative elements within the VMS.
It shows how limited the options for stylish differention are, at the scale of some millimeters only.
Size and space allow tiny circles, dots, lines, bubbles, but not much more.
As there are just a few decorations (a lot at the „buckets“ of zodiac ladies), I would not expect any message of them. -
RE: f67r2 outer band
R. Sale > 03-01-2026, 08:29 PM
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. -
RE: f67r2 outer band
Jorge_Stolfi > 04-01-2026, 12:52 AM
(03-01-2026, 06:50 AM)Ember Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.In f67r2 (see Beinecke scan You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) there is a detailed band around the presumed zodiac chart, which has a discontinuous/inconsistent pattern of blocks
Good work! I have nothing to say about possible meaning of those "blocks". But You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is a detailed verbal description of the page that I have been writing. It is still half-finished (especially after the "Holes and scrapes" section). But the "TABLE OF SECTORS" includes data on those "blocks" of the outer frame. maybe you find it useful...
(I find that writing those descriptions is much more illuminating than reading them, because it forces me to look at every detail. It is amazing how much we miss by seeing what we expect to be there, rather than what actually is there.)
All the best, --stolfi