The Book of Kells, around 800, p33r: 'Carpet Page'

The Book of Kells
around 800
page 33 recto [front, or right]: "Carpet Page"

Dublin, Ireland: Library of Trinity College
illuminated vellum [calfskin] manuscript
the four New Testament Gospels, Vulgate [Latin translation]
created by Columban monks who lived in a monastery on the island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland
monastery founded late in the sixth century by an Irish monk, St Colm Cille

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This page was last updated May 23, 2006.

Facing an image of Christ enthroned on folio 32 verso, this page is the only Carpet Page in the Kells. Such pages are known as "carpet pages" because they look like oriental rugs. According to the British Library, this "may have been intentional. St Bede writes that prayer mats were known in Northumbria at this time, as well as in eastern Christian and Islamic lands.They are also found in early Coptic (Christian Egyptian) manuscripts. Prayer mats help prepare worshippers for prayer. They also help prepare them before they move onto holy gropund. In the Lindisfarne Gospels the carpet pages play a similar role, preparing the reader for the the Gospel message."

The single Carpet Page in Kells is a bit anomalous. The Lindisfarne Gospels has five extant Carpet Pages and the Book of Durrow has six.

Source:
"Book of Kells." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells.
"Carpet Pages." The Lindisfarne Gospels Tour. Copyright © The British Library Board. http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/lindisfarne/carpetpages.html.