For 700 Years, King Arthur Tale Has Been in Private Hands
Newser • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A 700-year-old illuminated manuscript known as the Clermont-Tonnerre Grail, depicting early King Arthur legends, is set to be auctioned by Christie's in London on July 8 with an estimated price of $2 million to $2.7 million.
- Created around 1290–1310, the manuscript is one of the earliest and most richly illustrated versions of the Old French Lancelot-Grail cycle, featuring 126 miniatures including a rare image of Merlin as a talking stag.
- It is one of only three comparable Arthurian manuscripts remaining in private hands and is attributed to the anonymous "Master of the Liège Apocalypse," known for his distinctive use of gold and stylized figures.
- The manuscript has a notable provenance, having been owned by a 15th-century knight, Victorian collector Sir Thomas Phillipps, and French industrialist Jean Lebaudy, though the current consignor remains undisclosed.
- Scholars hope the manuscript will be acquired by a public institution to allow greater access for research, as it has never been fully studied and holds significant importance for Arthurian literature scholarship.