Conservation around the Millennium (Hungarian National Museum, 2001)
Pages - 111
4. Drawing of the clasp of corvina OSZK Cod.Lat.427 (drawing by Zsuzsanna Tóth) Cod.Lat.358. The single surviving clasp of the Asconius codex is fixed on a green cloth ribbon with two brass nails. Clasps and straps were applied on the boards before covering them with leather. The place of the straps, or rather cloth, was deepened into the board. The pair of the hooked clasps was also deepened into the back board. The leather was folded over the rim as well, on which the hooked clasp was caught (see OSZK Cod.Lat.427.) This rim can be seen at some volumes (the leather is worn off), but sometimes it is covered with leather. In the latter case the hook of the clasp could not be inserted into the loop. (Picture 4) Instead of leather straps, textile ribbons (at velvet bindings velvet ribbons), wider than the clasps, were used. They were green and white and showed yellow woven geometrical patterns. The other clasp type was made from plain brass and resembles a three- lobed leaf. It was also applied on the back board. The copper nails (2-3 nails) that fixed the ends of the ribbons on the front board are notched in a star shape. (Picture 5) Three-lobed leaf-shaped clasps were found during the excavations of the Buda castle as well.7 The find assemblage of various book mounts also proves the existence of a bindery in the royal castle. The Augustinus codex OSZK Cod.Lat.121. has a red velvet cover and finely ornamented gilded silver clasps with enamel inlays. Only two survived from the originally four items, two are replacements put on the volume by restorers. The original enamel inlays bear King Matthias’s coat of arms. (Picture 6) 5. Clasps of corvina OSZK Cod.Lat.344. (drawing by Zs. Tóth) 6. Drawing of the gilded silver clasp from the Augustinus codex OSZK Cod.Lat.121. 111
