Wax tablet, Tabula cerata, 12 x 7 cm

Product description

The cera (Latin for tabula cerata – wax tablet) was a small writing board made from a hard material such as boxwood, beech, or even bone. At the center of the board sat a recessed area filled with a layer of dark wax.

Writers used a stylus – a pointed tool made from metal, wood, or bone (Greek: st?los, Latin: stilus) – to scratch characters into the wax. Mistakes could be easily erased or smoothed over, making the tablet reusable. These wax tablets served daily needs: notes, task reminders, debts, obligations, and drafts of texts later copied onto papyrus or parchment. Wax tablets were far cheaper to produce than papyrus or parchment, making them a practical choice for drafts.

Sealed wax tablets also served official purposes — drafting wills, transmitting secret orders, statements, receipts, and reports. The oldest known archaeological example dates back to the 7th century BCE, found in Etruria (Italy). In Europe, wax tablets remained in widespread use until the mid-19th century.

Writing
Press the pointed end of the stylus lightly into the wax with a downward motion to carve letters.

Erasing
Use the flat side of the stylus to smooth the wax. Keep the stylus flat, place your index finger on the flattened side, and pull it across the wax (never push). This lets you reuse the tablet repeatedly.

This replica wax tablet includes two tablets. The wax is made from beeswax. It measures 12 × 7 cm and comes with a cotton pouch.