Product description
The cera (Latin for tabula cerata – wax tablet) was a small writing board crafted from a hard material such as boxwood, beech, or even bone. In the centre of the board was a recessed area filled with a layer of dark wax.
Writing was carried out on this wax layer using a stylus – a pointed tool constructed from metal, wood, or bone (Greek: st?los, Latin: stilus). With this tool, characters were scratched into the wax. Where required, the characters could easily be erased or smoothed over, rendering the tablet reusable.
These wax tablets were employed for daily notes, reminders of tasks, debts, obligations, and as draft versions of texts that were later copied onto papyrus or parchment. Sealed wax tablets were also utilised for official purposes, such as drafting wills, transmitting secret orders, declarations, receipts, and even reports. The oldest known archaeological example of a wax tablet dates from the 7th century BCE, found in Etruria (Italy). In Europe, the use of wax tablets remained common until the mid-19th century.
Writing
Use the pointed end of the stylus to carve letters into the wax with light downward pressure.
Erasing
The flat end of the stylus is employed to smooth the wax again. Hold the stylus flat, place your index finger on the flattened part, and move it in a pulling (not pushing) motion across the wax. This permits the tablet to be reused repeatedly.
This set consists of a wooden wax block with four writable surfaces, a brass stylus, and a matching red leather pouch that can be attached to a belt.
With the pointed end of the stylus, characters may be written into the wax, whilst the flat top is used to erase them, making the block reusable multiple times. The block and pouch measure 13 × 10 × 3 cm, and the pouch is constructed from 2 mm thick cowhide leather.
