Gero Codex – Sheet 5 – Christ in Majesty, UNESCO Documentary Heritage
Illuminated map reproduced in a limited and numbered edition on both sides of the Gero Codex with gold decorations, an Ottonian masterpiece from Reichenau
Sheet 5 of the Gero Codex is a decorative and collectible sheet taken from a limited and numbered edition of 199 copies of one of the most important illuminated manuscripts of the Ottonian age. The Gero Codex, also known as the Hiero Codex, was created in the 10th century in the scriptorium of Reichenau Abbey on Lake Constance, one of the most prestigious centers of medieval European illumination. The original manuscript is now preserved at the University and State Library of Darmstadt, Germany, with the shelfmark Hs. 1948. The codex belongs to the group of Ottonian illuminated manuscripts produced in Reichenau recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World documentary heritage, testimony to the historical, artistic and cultural value of the great medieval European book production. This card reproduces folio 5 of the manuscript: on one side a precious text page with gold writing on a purple-brown background, on the other the solemn image of the Maiestas Domini, that is, Christ in Majesty, seated on a throne and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. This is not an original medieval sheet, but a paper from a high-quality modern reproduction in a limited and numbered edition, designed to restore the visual and material charm of the great medieval illuminated manuscripts.Want more information about this product? Click here and fill out the form to be contacted by one of our curators.
149,00 €
- Description
Description
How paper is made
The paper is decorated on both sides and has a particularly rich visual effect.
The first side features a text page with gold letters set against a purple-brown background. The text is enclosed within an ornamental frame with stylized floral motifs, vibrant colors, and metallic details. The effect recalls the solemn pages of early medieval liturgical manuscripts, where the sacred word also became image, light, and ornament.
On the second side is the large miniature of the Maiestas Domini. Christ is depicted frontally, seated on a throne, with his right hand in a blessing gesture and a book in his left. The central figure is surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists: an eagle, a lion, a bull, and a winged angel/man.
The composition is embellished with a deep blue background, plant frames, geometric motifs, gold and silver profiles, metallic details, and alternating gold, purple, green, orange, and blue. The chromatic irregularities, stains, and visible shadows are part of the reproduction of the ancient parchment support.
This card is particularly suited to framing. The side with Christ in Majesty has a strong scenic impact, while the side with gold text on purple offers a more graphic, refined, and meditative elegance.
Why this sheet is special
Folio 5 is one of the most significant subjects of the Gero Codex because it combines two elements much sought after in medieval illuminated manuscripts: gold writing on a purple background and a large full-page miniature dedicated to Christ in Majesty.
The Maiestas Domini is one of the most solemn images of medieval Christian art. Christ is depicted as a heavenly sovereign, seated on a throne, at the center of an orderly and symbolic composition. The four evangelists, depicted with their traditional symbols, surround the divine figure and reinforce the image’s spiritual significance.
The connection to Reichenau, the preservation of the original in Darmstadt, the UNESCO recognition and the provenance from a limited and numbered edition of 199 copies make this card an object of particular interest for collectors, enthusiasts of the Middle Ages, sacred art and the history of books.
Who is it recommended for?
This card is ideal for those who love illuminated manuscripts, medieval art, Christian spirituality and the history of books.
It is particularly suitable for collectors, scholars, medieval enthusiasts, lovers of sacred art and people who wish to tastefully furnish a study, a library, a professional office or an elegant home environment.
It is also an excellent gift idea for those who appreciate cultured objects, rare in their presentation and capable of telling a story.
Product Features
- Reference work: Gero Codex / Hiero Codex
- Folio: 5
- Dimensions: width 22 cm by 30 cm approximately
- Main subject: Christ in Majesty / Maiestas Domini
- Origin of the original: Reichenau Abbey, Lake Constance, 10th century
- Conservation of the original: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Darmstadt, Germany
- Signature of the original: Hs. 1948
- Recognition: UNESCO Memory of the World documentary heritage
- Type: high quality modern reproduction paper
- Edition: limited and numbered to 199 copies
- Decoration: front and back
- Visual effect: parchment effect, polychrome decorations, gold decorations
- Main elements: golden script, purple background, Christ on the throne, evangelical symbols, floral frame, geometric motifs, gold and deep blue
- Condition: new
- Warranty: 24 months
Folio 5 from the Gero Codex is a document of great historical, artistic, and spiritual appeal. It depicts one of the most solemn images of medieval miniatures: Christ in Majesty, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists, along with a gold text page on a purple background.
Its origins date back to the Reichenau scriptorium; the original manuscript is now kept in Darmstadt, and the codex is part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Heritage.
Produced in a limited and numbered edition of 199 copies, this paper is ideal for collectors, medieval enthusiasts, lovers of illuminated manuscripts, and anyone who wants to bring a fragment of Europe’s great beauty into their home or study.
Buy it now for €199 and add to your collection a precious card inspired by one of the masterpieces of Ottonian miniature painting.
FAQ – Gero Codex Sheet 5
The Gero Codex, or Hiero Codex, is a 10th-century Ottonian illuminated manuscript, created in the scriptorium of Reichenau Abbey, one of the most important artistic and monastic centers of medieval Europe.
Yes. The Gero Codex belongs to the group of Ottonian illuminated manuscripts produced in Reichenau recognized in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, dedicated to the documentary heritage of humanity.
The original manuscript is preserved at the Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Darmstadt, Germany, with shelfmark Hs. 1948.
The manuscript was created at Reichenau Abbey, on Lake Constance in Germany. Reichenau was one of the great European centers of Ottonian miniature painting.
No. The sheet is not a medieval original. It is a map taken from a high-quality modern reproduction of the Gero Codex, a limited and numbered edition.
Yes. The card comes from a limited and numbered edition of 199 copies, which increases its collector’s interest.
The paper features a parchment-like effect, double-sided decorations, polychrome colors, and gold and silver metallic details. It reproduces folio 5 of the Gero Codex, with a gold-on-purple text page and a miniature of Christ in Majesty.
Folio 5 features on one side a text page with gold writing on a purple-brown background and on the other the Maiestas Domini, that is, Christ in Majesty, seated on a throne and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists.
Yes. It is particularly suitable for framing. The side with Christ in Majesty has a strong visual impact, while the side with gold text on purple offers a more sober, elegant, and refined solution.
Because it allows you to get closer to one of the masterpieces of Ottonian miniature painting and UNESCO documentary heritage through an accessible, elegant and collectible object, coming from a limited and numbered edition of just 199 pieces.
Commentary Liber Abbaci + Carta the beginning of folio 2