Page - 19 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 07/01

Materiality of Religious Books | 19www.jrfm.eu 2021, 7/1, 13–32 Economic potential is always a factor in book production. We cannot con- clude that the esteem in which a book is held (e. g. a Bible or a Gospel book) will necessarily be reflected in its materiality.6 The Holy Scriptures may appear in disguise, poorly clad in the hands of the rural poor or at times of scarcity, catastrophe or war. Book ownership could be a mark of achievement and engender satisfaction irrespective of the material quality of the book itself. We do encounter, however, some marvellously manufactured and deco- rated books for public and private use. The numerous outstanding Books of Hours are a case in point. Intended for private use, they were often commis- sioned by the wealthy, mostly members of noble families. These books – high- lights of contemporary book culture – were the fruit of the combination of precious materials and the highest craftmanship, and as such they functioned as expressions of social distinction and aristocratic prestige. Affordability was, however, a concern for consumers. Opulent books con- trasted with the daily life of toil experienced by the majority, far from any kind of luxury. Medieval critics stigmatised such vain book production with a range of arguments, e. g.: Following about haughtiness with books. From this haughtiness are suffer- ing those who want to have gilded books. Fourth then, that it is childish to love and become enthralled by gold and silver letters. Eighth, that this beauty is of minor value since it does not satiate humans.7 6 An edition of the Bible was produced in 1982 for schools in Austria The two volumes were of low quality, with cheap paper and a poor cover (in an unattractive red). Here was the paragon of a book whose materiality was out of step with the value of its contents. 7 Steinmann 2013, 476: Bibliothèque nationale, ms. lat. 12401, fol. 171r-v (13th century): Sequitur de superbia librorum, qua specie superbie laborant qui volunt habere libros Fig. 4: The spine of a book with high-quality sewing of the quires (Yerevan, Matenadaran MM ms. syr. 203). (Photo: E. Renhart)