Our brilliant Calligrapher, Satwinder Sehmi has had his latest work literally hanging in the Tower of London, and he has written an absolutely wonderful piece about the process of creating the pieces of work for this historical London Landmark. Grab a cup of tea, and have a good old look at how the piece came to fruition. Thanks Sehmi!
“The oldest zoo in our fair islands was in The Tower of London, and was to Regent’s Park when the number of animals became unmanageable there. Kings and Queens were given gift of exotic animals, which were housed in The Tower. Currently, there are numerous models of these beasts, made of chicken mesh, displayed around The Tower.
Historic Royal Palaces decided to create new signage regarding some of the animal exhibits based on the calligraphy of the era when the animals were gifted. Designers at HRP had researched into manuscripts relating to the period when King Henry III was given a polar bear by King Haakon IV of Norway and an elephant by King Louis IX of France. This concept was a complete departure, untried, from the usual signage at The Tower. Working with senior designer, Steve Burgess, there was an infectious enthusiasm about this project.
The brief was to create an illuminated (gilded) panel stating the gift, and a letter written by King Henry III instructing the Royal Builders to make specific housing for each animal. In fact, the keepers of the elephant had no concept of it’s diet, and allegedly fed it pheasant and red wine. I want to be that elephant!
Working with manuscripts from around the 1250’s, Sehmi was asked to produce signs to be encased in perspex to explain the exhibits. As The Tower is visited by a huge percentage of non-English tourists, it was vital that legibility was paramount. It is even difficult for indigenous visitors to comprehend the legibility of the writing styles of the period. With the premise that the signs stayed true to the writing styles of the period, a compromise style had to be created. This would have the characteristics of the period, but also be instantly legible as well. Easier said than done. Everything is possible!
The calligraphy on the illuminated panels was relatively easy to achieve. However, there were numerous tests for the King’s instructions. A style was achieved which remained true to the feel of the style and yet making it very legible.
A ‘test’ piece of the illuminated panel, using traditional methods of gilding with 22 carat gold leaf, and the King’s instructions were made and rigorously tested on the visitors and the advisory panel at HRP. The results were very positive, and from the feedback, the only changes were to the text of the King’s original instructions as some the language then used is now archaic.
The final work was photographed and mounted on regal background to be encased in perspex, and will be hung besides the models of the Royal Beasts.
It is worth going to The Tower just to see these magnificent pieces of work, or as they say,
Sehmi hanging in The Tower!”