Sale offers rarities

An unusual sale of rare art and artifacts from centuries gone by will be held March 11-12 at Siena College in Loudonville.

The sale includes illuminated manuscripts, bits of mummy-wrappings, cuneiform tablets, a complete 15th-century "Book of Hours" from Lyons, France (estimated to be worth $50,000), a gold coin imprinted with the head of Alexander the Great, a coat-of-arms made in 1492 for Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, handwritten texts from the 12th-18th centuries, and items demonstrating the history of writing from 2000 B.C. to the Renaissance.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Convivium department at Siena, an academic program focused on the study of medieval and early modern life.

Experts on hand

"This is the first of its kind [sale] in the area, as far as I know," noted Dr. Pamela Clements, professor of English and director of the Convivium. "It's going to be quite an exciting event. It's rare that we get to see a display of such remarkable old things."

Boyd Mackus of Mackus Company: Illuminated Manuscripts & Historical Documents, based in Ohio, owns all the items on sale. He will be present both days, giving lectures on illuminated manuscripts.

Additionally, Roger Wieck, curator of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts of the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City, will offer two lectures.

Collection

The Convivium department has its own collection of rare items, which are housed in the archives on campus. Some of these will be on display for viewing, but not for sale.

One of them will be Siena's most valuable piece: a small, hand-written, illuminated breviary that is believed by some to have been the same type of prayer book used by early Franciscan friars in the 14th century. This one may have been used by St. Bernardine of Siena, after whom the college is named.

Students and scholars use the pieces in Siena's collection for study and research.

Convivium

Every fall, the Convivium program at Siena sponsors an international conference on a topic in medieval or early modern life.

"This year's conference is titled 'What They Wore and What They Carried,' and it will highlight the customs, clothing and life styles of people during that period," said Prof. Clements.

Additionally, she said, the Convivium is a roundtable for scholars who meet regularly. The group is currently in the process of developing materials to help students better understand how early manuscripts and printed books were put together.

(Items can be previewed March 10, 7-10 p.m. Admission is $50. The sale is at the Father Benjamin Kuhn Alumni House at Siena, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., March 11; and noon-5 p.m., March 12. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for seniors and students; and free for children 12 and younger. Call 783-2300 for details or visit www.siena.edu/convivium.)

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