Here comes the merge of two old techniques from different sides of the globe — English encaustic tile production and Russian printed gingerbread tradition. 

Looking at limited photographic references (by Barry Thomas, Fiona Chartres and Joseph Patrick Keane), Vera revived the design. Vera was tempted to “correct it” but held myself back and followed the true original with all its wonderful features — and carved a wooden mould by hand, to cast and bake the alphabet gingerbread of beautiful Lombardic letters. 

White glazing highlights the raised letters!

The original tiles, made in Nottinghamshire around 1350, displayed the alphabet in a grid similar to that of horn books, early tools used to teach reading. The grid also reminds our contemporary font design software, doesn’t it?! 

The project willingly inhabits misreading, approximation, and reversal, echoing the mirrored inscriptions characteristic of Nottingham alphabet tiles.

The Lombardic alphabet — once fixed in fired clay — is recast in spice and dough, knowledge rendered edible and temporary. First edition is already munched with mulled wine!