These wax tablets were created specially for children who study history of writing at the Saint-Petersburg calligraphy school. By construction they are absolutely similar to the tablets of Antiquity and the Middle ages. In particular the Novgorod Codex (the oldest Russian book) was a model for this work. My aim was to present the tradition in a contemporary way by creating rather authentic, but at the same time modern, tablets.

Each tablet is made of Arkhangelsk pine and filled with wax mixed with charcoal. The tablet has almost the same size as the Novgorod Codex (22 x 15 cm).

Different Russian proverbs were carved on the face side of each tablet. This lettering was based on the writing of the Novgorod Codex as well as the writing of numerous medieval birch bark letters (which were mainly found in Novgorod). Also the works of Tom Perkins were a great source of inspiration for me. Letters have slightly different proportions, weight and details depending on the composition, so it's not a typeface but lettering.

All photos and calligraphy on wax by Maria Skopina.