Interlace knot designs, with a casting note and a doubling series
A sheet of woven ornamental knots alongside a note on impressing points in gesso
The blue sheet is filled with numerous studies of intricate interlace, plaited and knotted ornament arranged in framed panels and roundels; this woven decoration is the dominant, largely untranscribed feature of the page. Written across the sheet (turned upside down) is a short technical note on impressing clay diamond points into a gesso hollow, then baking and fixing them with wax. Along the lower margin runs a geometric doubling series, 1 2 4 8 up to 512. Further faint jottings accompany the ornament and remain untranscribed.
On this page
Panels and roundels of interlace knotwork
The greater part of the sheet is covered with studies of plaited and knotted interlace set within rectangular panels and circular medallions. These woven-band designs are drawn but not transcribed in the bundle; additional faint ornament and notes are present on the sheet.
Impressing diamond points in gesso and fixing with wax
Impress the diamond points of clay into a hollow of gesso; then bake, and attach them with wax onto the wax. The note describes a small casting or moulding procedure for reproducing pointed forms.
Doubling series 1 to 512
Along the lower margin Leonardo writes a geometric doubling series: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, each term twice the one before.