Abstract border design for ornamental penwork, France 19C

Single leaf, 9 x 14 inches, loosely housed in archival conservation matting, 16x20 inches. The leaf comes from a pen work drawing and calligraphy manuscript located in Laval, France. The Immaculate Conception Carmel at Laval was established in 1856 by the Carmelite nuns of Le Mans. Given the overtly religious themes in other surviving pages from the manuscript, it is believed to be the work of a young Carmelite sister or novitiate from before the community disbanded at the turn of the century. Shipping will be calculated by location.