Elisabeth B
@decorporis.bsky.social
Rare book librarian in the Midwest, tea and fountain pen enthusiast, cat lover.
All the fiction I write ends up being set in Alsace.
December 6, 2025 at 6:58 AM
All the fiction I write ends up being set in Alsace.
The Isenheim altarpiece is truly a masterpiece.
December 4, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The Isenheim altarpiece is truly a masterpiece.
This bible printed by Johann Mentelin in 1466 in Strasbourg is stunning. A gorgeous example of manuscript and print artistry coming together.
It’s part of the Dominican Library in Colmar, France - the Christmas Markets aren’t the only magical thing to see there!
It’s part of the Dominican Library in Colmar, France - the Christmas Markets aren’t the only magical thing to see there!
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
This bible printed by Johann Mentelin in 1466 in Strasbourg is stunning. A gorgeous example of manuscript and print artistry coming together.
It’s part of the Dominican Library in Colmar, France - the Christmas Markets aren’t the only magical thing to see there!
It’s part of the Dominican Library in Colmar, France - the Christmas Markets aren’t the only magical thing to see there!
800 year old architectural drawings for the Strasbourg Cathedral held at the Museum of Notre Dame in Strasbourg. None of our electronic records will ever last this long.
November 30, 2025 at 8:25 PM
800 year old architectural drawings for the Strasbourg Cathedral held at the Museum of Notre Dame in Strasbourg. None of our electronic records will ever last this long.
Spotted two printer’s marks in Basel: Holbein’s painting of the Froben mark in the Kunstmuseum, and a woodblock of Oporinus’s mark in the paper museum (sadly the mark used in the 1555 Fabrica, which is ugly compared to the one in the 1543 edition).
November 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Spotted two printer’s marks in Basel: Holbein’s painting of the Froben mark in the Kunstmuseum, and a woodblock of Oporinus’s mark in the paper museum (sadly the mark used in the 1555 Fabrica, which is ugly compared to the one in the 1543 edition).
Basel is getting into the Christmas spirit with nativity scenes.
November 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Basel is getting into the Christmas spirit with nativity scenes.
Found the Paracelsus birthplace.
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Found the Paracelsus birthplace.
I’m also pretty sure I got a glimpse of an anatomical drawing based on this image from Govard Bidloo’s atlas (plus lots of the anatomical sketches seem to refer to the style of the Scottish Bell brothers):
November 15, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I’m also pretty sure I got a glimpse of an anatomical drawing based on this image from Govard Bidloo’s atlas (plus lots of the anatomical sketches seem to refer to the style of the Scottish Bell brothers):
Today was our last tea practice with our teacher until spring, as she always spends the winter in Japan. We used the kotodana shelf, always a fun procedure.
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Today was our last tea practice with our teacher until spring, as she always spends the winter in Japan. We used the kotodana shelf, always a fun procedure.
Today was my tea group’s last time using the Nagano-an tea house for the year. It’s always so nice to drink tea there - a nice quiet oasis.
November 2, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Today was my tea group’s last time using the Nagano-an tea house for the year. It’s always so nice to drink tea there - a nice quiet oasis.
I suppose it turned out all right (our other Rare Book Librarian has awesome design skills).
October 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I suppose it turned out all right (our other Rare Book Librarian has awesome design skills).
The Becker Arcana is almost ready to send out into the universe.
October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The Becker Arcana is almost ready to send out into the universe.
The Lyric Opera signage is always top tier.
October 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The Lyric Opera signage is always top tier.
I’m at that point in trying to crank out my exhibit labels that all my brain can come up with is “The book is pretty.”
October 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I’m at that point in trying to crank out my exhibit labels that all my brain can come up with is “The book is pretty.”
A glorious day for tea at Nagano-an, the tea house at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
October 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A glorious day for tea at Nagano-an, the tea house at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
Have a soft, sweet, sleepy cat for these trying times.
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Have a soft, sweet, sleepy cat for these trying times.
The late grandmaster of Urasenke believed in world peace through a bowl of tea. He was right - my tea group is becoming more and more of an oasis of peace and friendship and calm in these times. I am so grateful to have it.
October 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The late grandmaster of Urasenke believed in world peace through a bowl of tea. He was right - my tea group is becoming more and more of an oasis of peace and friendship and calm in these times. I am so grateful to have it.
The physical cards for our Becker Library Major Arcana decks came in! They look so good.
September 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The physical cards for our Becker Library Major Arcana decks came in! They look so good.
WHAT SECRETS DOES IT HOLD.
September 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM
WHAT SECRETS DOES IT HOLD.
Another cool thing is that I am now a Dual Pilgrim! UNESCO has two recognized historic pilgrimage routes, the Camino and the Kumano Kodo in Japan. I have now done both. :)
September 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Another cool thing is that I am now a Dual Pilgrim! UNESCO has two recognized historic pilgrimage routes, the Camino and the Kumano Kodo in Japan. I have now done both. :)
MADE IT.
(RIP my feet)
(RIP my feet)
September 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
MADE IT.
(RIP my feet)
(RIP my feet)
Are there any specialists in Spanish religious architecture who can tell me
about what I’ve noticed on the Camino? Lots of standing stone crosses with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other. Provincial churches all following a similar template, especially the bell towers (not really towers?!?).
about what I’ve noticed on the Camino? Lots of standing stone crosses with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other. Provincial churches all following a similar template, especially the bell towers (not really towers?!?).
September 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Are there any specialists in Spanish religious architecture who can tell me
about what I’ve noticed on the Camino? Lots of standing stone crosses with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other. Provincial churches all following a similar template, especially the bell towers (not really towers?!?).
about what I’ve noticed on the Camino? Lots of standing stone crosses with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other. Provincial churches all following a similar template, especially the bell towers (not really towers?!?).
After three days on El Camino, I literally smell like a barnyard. It’s a lovely stretch of countryside, though.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM
After three days on El Camino, I literally smell like a barnyard. It’s a lovely stretch of countryside, though.
Was setting out to do a Camino, even one consisting of a mere 135km, quixotic of me?
September 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Was setting out to do a Camino, even one consisting of a mere 135km, quixotic of me?
