DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.74283#0043
ORIGIN OF THE SCHEMBARTLAUF 25
of script and miniature below will serve to fix the last quarter of
the Sixteenth Century as the period of its creation.
A striking title-page introduces us to the subject of our MS:
the simple words "Schempart Buech," in black letter, are sur-
rounded by an exuberant Renaissance design in bright water-
colors.8 Only one other Schembart MS is graced with a miniature
on the title-page, MS No. 60, the Schembartbuch in Kiel, and the
design is similar to that of ours:9 a decorative enframement imitat-
ing massive architectural forms with interrupted curves, on which
four graceful male figures are super-imposed, two seated above
on the elliptical arch and two smaller figures below resting on the
curves of the design. By their masks and staves and the sheaf of
leaves in the hand of one, by their gay costumes and ornaments
of bells, but above all by their free, unconventional attitudes we
recognize these figures to be Schembartlaufer, heralds to the
reader of the chronicle of the carnival which follows.10 As in many
of the earliest printed title-pages we have here simply the title
with an illustration related to the contents of the book.11 The
lettering employed by the scribe is similar to the black letter found
in MSS or printed works from the middle of the Sixteenth Century.
A rhymed chronicle of seventy-four rough-hewn Knittelverse
follows the title-page, occupying ff. iv, 2r, 2v.12 The poem, in
8 Cf. reproduction in frontispiece. Unfortunately the particular charm of the
colors, green, red, and yellow, with black lines, and considerable gilding, is lost in
our reproduction. The Library's signature, "Nor. Kupfer 444," is inscribed in
pencil at the top of the folio; the seal of the "Nurnberger Stadtbibliothek," with
the city's coat of arms, is stamped below the design.
9 The colors are more brilliant in the Kiel MS and the whole miniature is smaller;
the title is more explicit and there are other minor differences.
"All four figures wear black hats with white feathers, and black shoes. The
costumes are variegated in color and design: the costume of the Ldufer on the
upper left is red and white with a pattern of red and gold flames; the Ldufer on
the upper right wears black and yellow with a design of gold flames; the costumes
below are orange and purple with gold stars, and red and black with gold flames.
The masks are all flesh-color.
" Cf. M. Sondheim, "Das Titelblatt," 5. Kleiner Druck der Gutenberg-Gesell-
schaft, Mainz (Oktober, 1927), pp. gff. In Schembart books with title-pages orna-
mental lettering is usual, and often the contents are described in detail; cf. MS
No. 6, f. 1: "Eigentliche und Waare/ Abbildung aller und/ Jeder Haubtleithe der/
Schdmbarts Gesell-/ safft wie sie in Kleidun/ gen und andern von/ Anno 1449 bis
[539 in/ Niirnberg gelauffen/ ordentl. mit ihren Na/ men und Wappen/ benannet
und ver/ zeichnet."
"Several Schembart books also have introductory miniatures in grandiose style
of script and miniature below will serve to fix the last quarter of
the Sixteenth Century as the period of its creation.
A striking title-page introduces us to the subject of our MS:
the simple words "Schempart Buech," in black letter, are sur-
rounded by an exuberant Renaissance design in bright water-
colors.8 Only one other Schembart MS is graced with a miniature
on the title-page, MS No. 60, the Schembartbuch in Kiel, and the
design is similar to that of ours:9 a decorative enframement imitat-
ing massive architectural forms with interrupted curves, on which
four graceful male figures are super-imposed, two seated above
on the elliptical arch and two smaller figures below resting on the
curves of the design. By their masks and staves and the sheaf of
leaves in the hand of one, by their gay costumes and ornaments
of bells, but above all by their free, unconventional attitudes we
recognize these figures to be Schembartlaufer, heralds to the
reader of the chronicle of the carnival which follows.10 As in many
of the earliest printed title-pages we have here simply the title
with an illustration related to the contents of the book.11 The
lettering employed by the scribe is similar to the black letter found
in MSS or printed works from the middle of the Sixteenth Century.
A rhymed chronicle of seventy-four rough-hewn Knittelverse
follows the title-page, occupying ff. iv, 2r, 2v.12 The poem, in
8 Cf. reproduction in frontispiece. Unfortunately the particular charm of the
colors, green, red, and yellow, with black lines, and considerable gilding, is lost in
our reproduction. The Library's signature, "Nor. Kupfer 444," is inscribed in
pencil at the top of the folio; the seal of the "Nurnberger Stadtbibliothek," with
the city's coat of arms, is stamped below the design.
9 The colors are more brilliant in the Kiel MS and the whole miniature is smaller;
the title is more explicit and there are other minor differences.
"All four figures wear black hats with white feathers, and black shoes. The
costumes are variegated in color and design: the costume of the Ldufer on the
upper left is red and white with a pattern of red and gold flames; the Ldufer on
the upper right wears black and yellow with a design of gold flames; the costumes
below are orange and purple with gold stars, and red and black with gold flames.
The masks are all flesh-color.
" Cf. M. Sondheim, "Das Titelblatt," 5. Kleiner Druck der Gutenberg-Gesell-
schaft, Mainz (Oktober, 1927), pp. gff. In Schembart books with title-pages orna-
mental lettering is usual, and often the contents are described in detail; cf. MS
No. 6, f. 1: "Eigentliche und Waare/ Abbildung aller und/ Jeder Haubtleithe der/
Schdmbarts Gesell-/ safft wie sie in Kleidun/ gen und andern von/ Anno 1449 bis
[539 in/ Niirnberg gelauffen/ ordentl. mit ihren Na/ men und Wappen/ benannet
und ver/ zeichnet."
"Several Schembart books also have introductory miniatures in grandiose style