The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: Loose pages

A fragment of the Miracles of Mary “from a church in Magdala”

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / 1 Comment on A fragment of the Miracles of Mary “from a church in Magdala”

What: An illustrated double page taken out of an 18th century manuscript of the Miracles of Mary, found in one of the churches at Magdala

Where: The National Records of Scotland, 2 Princes St, Edinburgh EH1 3YY

The entry in the Records catalogue reads:
Abyssinian liturgical fragment
Ref no: GD1/1317/1-2
C18th
Page from an illuminated Coptic manuscript with miniatures depicting the Miracles of Mary, acquired by Lt H.H. Cole (1843-1916) from a church in Magdala in 1868
It is made up of four pages, back to back – i.e. one double page, pulled out, printed on both sides. Maybe the centre pages.
Four illustrations, two tall, thin oblongs, one shorter oblong and a backwards L-shape.

Posted In Festivals & miracles of Mary, Jesus & the angels | Loose pages | Manuscripts
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A 17th century parchment with sacred drawings, from the emperor’s palace

Published February 26, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Drawings of St George and the Dragon , the Virgin and Child, Christ and His Disciples, in Gethsemane, Christ scourged, Christ mocked, the Crucifixion and Taking Down from the Cross, likely taken from a manuscript

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “This drawing was brought from the Emperor Theodore’s Palace at Magdala on its destruction by the Abyssinian Expedition, 1868. Purchased from Mr McNaughton, 4 Oct 1920.”

Museum number:
E.3937-1920

Posted In Loose pages | Manuscripts | Unspecified
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Two parts of a scroll last seen in Leeds *

Published August 30, 2022 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: “Two Fragments of a MS. Abyssinian Charm, on vellum, with rude illustrations”

Where: Unknown

Part of the catalogue for the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds

Description

One of 21 artefacts from the Abyssinian expedition put on show at the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds in 1868

According to the exhibition’s catalogue, it was lent by a Mr E. Smart. There are no details on what happened to it after the show closed in October that year.

Sources

National Exhibition of Works of Art, at Leeds, 1868 : official catalogue

Posted In Loose pages | Manuscripts | Scrolls | Suspected Magdala plunder
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