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he Book of Drôleries was executed in the 15th century when Flemish book illumination was at its height. It is widely assumed that Simon Bening and Gerard Horenbout, the leading masters of the Ghent-Bruges School, together with their assistants, played a major role in illuminating the manuscript. Books of Hours like the Drôleries, incidentally, were personal prayer books of persons of nobility or wealth and in the 15th century a status symbol of the highest order. This particular example is famous for its drolleries - or humorous designs - but also boasts several other artistic features of note: the decorative borders and frames for example, which incorporate figures and scenes from Gothic architecture. The original has been in the possession of the Austrian National Library since 1738.

Production of the Fine Art Facsimile Edition, which resembles the original in every respect, united the traditional methods known to medieval craftsmen with ultra modern techniques. Each of the 58 miniatures, of which 24 are calendar illustrations, and more than 200 drolleries were facsimiled in a process that called for limitless patience and meticulous attention to detail. The exquisitely finished miniatures were particularly demanding - as indeed were the numerous ornamental initials, the vast number of illustrations interwoven with text, and finally the lavishly decorated leather cover. The Facsimile is limited to 980 copies world-wide. Of these, 290 feature valuable gold plated clasps, studs and rosettes.

Please Note: The facsimile volume with the gold plated clasps is now sold out.

A documentation kit containing 3 sample pages, in the original size (13.7 x 19.5 cm), from the Croy Hours Fine Art Facsimile Volume, plus an illustrated, 14 page information brochure, is available for $US65.