Name of the Rose (The)

An original manuscript used in the production of the 1986 medieval picture The Name of the Rose starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater.

This is one of the original illuminated manuscripts which were custom made by the props department for the production. Beautifully crafted with superb historical accuracy the prop is constructed from hard board which is covered with leather bearing a motif to the front cover which also features ornate corner protectors of metal with leather straps which locate on pins to secure it closed. The interior of the manuscript consists of a number of parchment like pages which have been intentionally distressed with water by the production to give an old appearance. The majority of these pages remain blank with six pages of content to the centre which consists of writing which is entirely hand inscribed, believed in Latin, and a hand painted illustration decorated with gold as you would expect with an illuminated manuscript of the period, a further printed page is also included.

This manuscript can be screen matched to the one used by the monk as he reads in the dining room scenes early in the film after an introduction by The Abbot (Michael Lonsdale). Further to this one of the pages is hand inscribed to the top with the dialogue read in Latin by the monk, this is actually a genuine extract from chapter seven of noted religious text The Rule of Saint Benedict, this would have been done by the actor to avoid memorising the difficult Latin passage.

The manuscript measures approximately 12.5" x 10" with a thickness of around 2.5", it remains in excellent production distressed and screen used condition.

A fine example of prop making at the highest level this represents a highly displayable artefact from this well regarded production.