Pristine King Arthur Manuscript to Auction at Christie's London

A rare, complete manuscript from the Lancelot-Grail Cycle, known as the Clermont-Tonnerre Grail, will be auctioned by Christie's on July 8 in London. Estimated at £1.5–2 million ($2–2.6 million), it is one of only three complete Vulgate Cycle texts in private hands and the oldest of them. The manuscript, dating from circa 1300 and originating in Metz, contains the first three texts of the cycle: the history of the Holy Grail, the origins of Merlin, and his adventures with King Arthur. It features 126 illuminated illustrations attributed to the Master of the Liége Apocalypse, an anonymous artist active around 1300. Its provenance includes Michel de Gronnais, Michel de Chaverson, the comte de Clermont-Tonnerre, Sir Thomas Phillipps, and Jean Lebaudy. Christie's has not disclosed the consignor. Academics hope the manuscript enters a public collection for study. The Rochefoucauld Grail, another complete Vulgate Cycle manuscript, sold for £2.3 million at Sotheby's in 2010.