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. In the center of the board was a recessed area filled with a layer of dark wax.

Writing on this wax layer was done with a stylus – a pointed tool made of metal, wood, or bone (Greek: stŷlos, Latin: stilus). With this tool, characters were scratched into the wax. If necessary, these marks could easily be erased or smoothed over, making the tablet reusable. These wax tablets were used for daily notes, reminders of tasks, debts, obligations, and as drafts of texts that were later copied onto papyrus or parchment. Wax tablets were much cheaper to produce than papyrus or parchment, making them an ideal material for drafts.

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

Writing
Use the pointed end of the stylus to carve letters into the wax with light pressure in a downward motion.

Erasing
The flat side of the stylus is used to smooth the wax. Keep the stylus flat, place your index finger on the flattened side, and move it in a pulling (not pushing) motion over the wax. This allows the tablet to be reused repeatedly.

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