Book cover

This is a ornamented, leather cover of a liturgical book, it is intact. It is decorated with figural reliefs on both sides. The edges of the cover are folded over, and the impressions left by string used to bind the book are visible along the spine. The top part of the book cover features a rectangular field with the embossed image of what is thought to be the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant in her arms. The image is framed by balusters connected at the top by a triangular arch decorated with double rings. On the left edge of the lower field there is a very clear letter C and several indistinct scratches (they could not be deciphered), the top field has the Roman numeral XXXIV faintly inscribed with a sharp tool. It could be that the Roman numerals indicate the year the book was bound – 1534. The rectangular field on the bottom part of the book cover has what is thought to be an image of Christ Blessing, with a raised hand and the two outer fingers bent down, waded into frothing waters to his shins. In his left hand is an Imperial Apple with a Roman cross. Above his head is a triangular, radiating halo. At his sides are the same balusters connected by a semi-circular arch decorated with bow shapes, triangles and circles. The edges of the cover are decorated with a fine 1.5 cm wide repeating geometric-vegetal ornament, which has partly disintegrated in areas.