Timbuktu, part 3: the Tablet

The tablet had to include the shelves, the crates, and the new library.

After several tries, I had the basic arrangement, and as usual, I added to it:

I fit in images of manuscript pages on the sides, along with the scholar examining the crates of books on the right.

Since Medieval manuscripts were written on parchment (which is a form of leather), I used extremely thin strips from old white leather gloves to create the scrolls on this tablet.

In this picture, you can see the leather scrolls, as well as some constructed from embroidery floss. The books were made from the same stash of old cloth book covers and wallets that I used to make the books on the Louvain Tablet.

An extreme close-up, with the various threads and strips of leather used to make the books and scrolls.

After I had finished this one, I happened to be reading about American scientists frantically struggling to download all sorts of climate data in 2016. They were worried that the new administration would  delete the data from public websites. When I discussed it with my husband, he said "it reminds me of that piece you did, the one on Timbuktu, and how they hid books". Yes, unfortunately, the threat to collections of knowledge is not limited to the distant past. This one is designed, dyed, and waiting to be sewn:

On Friday, I'll be sharing some patterns before we start the Flood Tablet on Monday.