Decorated Manuscript on Parchment, Annual Siddur – Italy, 14th-15th century

Manuscript of a year-round Seder Tefilah. [Italy], [14th-15th century].
Brown ink on thin parchment leaves (made of embryo leather), Italian-Ashkenazi script in medium writing, with vowelization.
Includes prayers for weekdays and for Shabbat, according to the custom of Rome, with "Seder Hatavat Chalom," "Kidush Levanah," etc. Following these prayers appear additional sections related to the main prayers, and the "Amidah" prayers of all the other holidays: "Rosh Chodesh," the three pilgrimage festivals, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Hanukkah and Purim. Includes numerous important liturgies: "Kedushah LeRosh HaShanah" ("Unetana Tokef"), "Mi Kamocha" for Shabbat Zechor ("Adon Hasdecha" by Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy), "Reshut LeShabbat HaGadol," Hosha'anot, etc. A version of "Kol Nedarim" was added to the Yom Kippur prayer.
A remarkable manuscript in artistic-calligraphic script typical of the period, with instructions in miniature letters (not vowelized). Enlarged opening words, some decorated with floral and vegetal motifs, others encircled by decorated frames. More decorations appear at the end of some of the chapters. Above the word "Keter" in "Kedoshah" of the Shabbat prayer is an illustration of a crown. Most of the pages consist of 18-19 lines. "Shirat HaYam" is written in the form of "tile over brick," some sections (eg the Hosha'anot liturgies) are written in two columns. The "VeTodi'aynu" prayer is scripted in particularly large letters, for an unknown reason.
The "Aleynu LeShabe'ach" prayer contains the sentence, "For they worship vanity and emptiness, and pray to a god who cannot save," which implies that this manuscript was not censored. No other version alterations have been examined.
A number of leaves are lacking at the beginning of the manuscript and thus it starts with the section "LeOlam yihiye adam yehreh shamayim" that precedes the "Shacharit" prayer.
Bound in an antique parchment binding.
[88] parchment leaves. 13-14 cm. Varying condition of the leaves, mostly good-fair. Stains and wear, blurred ink, tears to some leaves.