A rare medieval manuscript containing early versions of the King Arthur, Merlin, and Holy Grail myths will be auctioned at Christie’s London on 8 July with an estimate of £1.5m–£2m. Known as the Clermont-Tonnerre Grail, the vellum manuscript (circa 1290–1310) features gold leaf illumination and 126 miniature illustrations by the Master of the Liège Apocalypse. It includes texts from the Old French Lancelot-Grail cycle and has a distinguished provenance, having belonged to figures such as Sir Thomas Phillipps and the comte de Clermont-Tonnerre.
The sale matters because this is one of only three such manuscripts in private hands, making it an extraordinary rarity for collectors and institutions. The work represents a foundational text of Western literature and medieval art, and its auction could set a benchmark for illuminated manuscripts in the current market. Christie’s specialist Eugenio Donadoni emphasizes the manuscript’s cultural significance, noting that its stories have endured for centuries.