Six centuries ago, Brussels belonged to the rich and powerful Dukes of Burgundy. Skilled politicians and cultured patrons, they established a stirring treasure: the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy, a collection of manuscripts so unique it has its own name.
These masterpieces, which have survived the ravages of time and of history, have been looked after for you by KBR. On September 18, 2020 we will open our vaults and share these gems with you in a new museum, in and around the Nassau Chapel.
The miniatures of these ancient books are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. You can show off some gems from the Burgundian manuscript collection yourself by wearing one of our KBR face masks. That is why we present you not one, but two very different face mask collections.
Find out which face mask suits you best. Be inspired by the different stories, fabrics, images and designs.
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What story lives behind your face mask?
La première guerre punique
Did you know that history books sometimes lie? The books of the Dukes of Burgundy mainly tell “the truth of the dukes”. Prestigious manuscripts were often used as a propaganda tool. In the manuscript La première guerre punique you see consul Marcus Atilius Regulus fighting a dragon. The story is based on the work of the Latin author Titus Livius. However, it is surprising to find a battle against a dragon in a history book. Furthermore, the city architecture and armour are much closer to the universe of the 15th century than to that of the ancient times of Titus Livius and the Punic Wars.
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Les sept âges du monde
The best of the Flemish primitives can be found in books! Everyone knows Jan van Eyck, but the miniaturists who illuminated books are certainly just as talented. In this period of bloom that the painting of the Flemish primitives entails, the art of illumination emerges. Flemish primitives place religious scenes in a daily reality, the familiar environment of the spectator. Therefore, in Les sept âges du monde, Adam and Eve are placed in a European landscape. The illumination of this miniature depicting the Earthly Paradise is attributed to Simon Marmion.
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Decoration in the margin of a missal
From the end of the 14th century, “droleries” –the part human, part animal images depicted in the margins of medieval manuscripts– were slowly getting replaced by plant and flower motifs. Profane and humorous marginalia or border decorations give way to rod work and branches between floral elements, garlands and thorns. Due to the endless shifts in wickerwork and the entanglements, the foliage eventually overgrows the entire space next to the text in manuscripts. The missal from which this border decoration is taken, is its silent witness.
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Psalter of Guy of Dampierre
The miniature that decorates this face mask comes from a psalter that belonged to the Count of Flanders, Guy of Dampierre (ca. 1226-1305). Fabulous hybrids and anthropomorphic creatures cling to the swashes. Other “droleries” evoke the mundus inversus- an upside-down and twisted world where evil beasts, monkeys, foxes and rabbits parody and horribly ridicule people for their flaws.
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Les Fleur des histoires
Les Fleur des histoires is one of the finest manuscripts of the Burgundian collection. It is an extensive world history with Biblical and secular texts, from the Creation story to the end of the reign of the French King Charles VI. Several talented illuminators provided the illustration for this broad chronicle. This beautiful detail from a miniature depicting of Noah’s ark is attributed to the Mansel master.
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Exclusive masks Esther Weis
Esther Weis (°1990- Antwerp) designs handmade hats under the label Esther Weis Millinery and hand sewn face masks under the label Masked by EW. Together we developed an exclusive face mask collection in the theme of our new museum: The Dukes of Burgundy.
These unique, hand-embroidered face masks come in different sizes and colors. The images on the fabric was carefully selected from the large collection of manuscripts. With this collection we want to emphasize sustainability, respect for materials and for stories.
The price of these face masks are 35 euros. Together with Esther, we will donate 5 euros of this amount to the Saint-Augustine Hospital, as a thank you for the care they provide to our covid-19 patients every day. The designer selected this hospital and we are very happy to be able to support these efforts.
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