Ledger of accounts for household expenses of Cassandra Gondi, wife of the late Lionardo Gondi, for the years 1513-1525. Lionardo Gondi died in 1513 (f. 24r) and his wife took over management of the estate. Part of his inheritance appeared to be used to support Cassandra and allow her to maintain the same standard of life she had while he was still alive. The first part of the manuscript (f.1-10) includes the nature of a given transaction as well as listing the names of the individuals that act as counterparts in the transactions, and the amount disbursed to complete each transaction. The ledger contains a wide range of transactions related to various aspects of household management, including the payment of wages of servants and helpers (for help with housework, such as laundry, and for transportation and other services); expenses for household repairs (including roof maintenance, and furniture and cookware repair or substitution, in case of severe damage); expenses for the care of horses and mules (including routine tasks such as shoeing); and payments to tailors for mending clothes (which are often described in great detail) and accessories. The names of Belicozzo di Belicozzo Gondi and Simone di Giovanbattista Gondi frequently appear in the second part of the manuscript (f.24-33), and both of them disburse varying amounts to cover household expenses. Accounts are mostly recorded every few months, apart from Belicozzo and Simone's payments, which are more detailed and recorded as they are disbursed (sometimes more than once in a single month).
Ms. codex.; Title supplied by cataloger.; Foliation: Paper, 52; [1-52]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto (f. 7-8, 10-23, and 33-51 are blank).; Layout: Written in 2 columns with vertical bounding lines in lead; the large column on the left with the debtor or creditor and a brief description of the credit or debt, and the smaller one on the right with the amount of the debt and credit. Itemized accounts of single transactions or long lines are also used.; Script: Written in a cursive script, perhaps by multiple hands.; Watermark: Unidentified watermark, very faint, containing leaves, and perhaps a flower.; Origin: Written in Florence between 1513 (f. 1v) and 1525 (f. 32v).; Forms part of: Gondi-Medici Business Records.; Italian.
Physical Location:
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Codex 1490
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