Specializing in the mechanics of traditional script, the atelier produces manuscript facsimiles, monograms, and custom text relying exclusively on the distinct physical resistance of iron gall ink, calfskin vellum, and twenty-four karat gold leaf.
A study of late-medieval psalter forms, featuring a fully illuminated initial and gothic texturalis script.
An exploration of Roman capitals and flourishing, using traditional broad-edge techniques and natural walnut pigments.
A commissioned piece rendering Verlaine's poetry in an expressive italic hand, accented with delicate gilded leaves.
A personal study replicating Renaissance epistolary hands, focusing on the rhythmic flow of Italian cursive.
A faithful reproduction of insular half-uncial script, gilded extensively using traditional glair and shell gold preparation.
A continuous scroll exploring Lucretius’s philosophical text, utilizing a tightly spaced foundational hand and minimal ornamentation.
Drafting and penning of a bespoke two-letter cypher, suitable for reproduction or framing.
A single gilded initial following late-medieval patterns, finished with 24k gold leaf.
Heraldic design rendered in gouache and raised gold, scaled for formal framing.
We begin by discussing the intended use of the piece, structural requirements, and preferred historical references. This informs the choice of specific inks, gilding techniques, and vellum preparation.
Initial structural drafts are drawn to establish layout, margins, and hierarchy. We finalize the exact script style and ornamentation before any marks are made on the final material.
The penning and illumination take place over several weeks. Raised gilding requires precise environmental conditions, followed by the careful application of tempera or iron gall ink.
Once fully cured, the piece is either handed over for archival binding or securely packaged for international transit, accompanied by notes on preservation and material care.
The atelier accepts a limited number of commissions each season, prioritizing projects that require traditional material execution. This includes heraldic devices, illuminated initials, and bespoke manuscript reproduction. Each commission begins with an assessment of materials—from the sourcing of specific vellum grades to the preparation of historically accurate pigments.
Because the process relies on natural drying times and deliberate handwork, lead times reflect the physical realities of the craft. Please provide an initial outline of your requirements below. We will follow up to discuss archival considerations, framing scale, and the precise execution timeline.
I came to letters through the archives. Studying twelfth-century manuscripts in Tbilisi, I realized that understanding the forms required holding the pen. I began cutting quills from turkey feathers and brewing oak galls for ink. The physical resistance of calfskin vellum and the distinct bite of iron gall ink taught me what reproduction cannot show: writing is an act of carving into a surface, not merely drawing across it.
My formal training relied heavily on the foundational methods of Edward Johnston and the historical treatises on ink formulation. I do not aim to modernize these scripts, but to execute them with the exact tools they were designed for. Working with natural pigments, gum ammoniac, and raw vellum requires surrendering to the environmental conditions of the studio.
Today, the atelier operates primarily on private commission. Whether executing a simple monogram or a fully illuminated structural leaf, the philosophy remains rooted in permanence and historical accuracy.