Description

Cast by hand in the Wild Goose Studio, Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. This Latin "Litera Scripta Manet" (translation: The written word endures...) wall plaque has an outer shell of pure bronze with an inner core of cast resin material for stability. Each Wild Goose piece is made entirely by hand, with no two being exactly alike.

Since ancient times, bronze has been a highly prized metal for the making of tools, jewelry and statues. It is an alloy of copper, which was first mined in Ireland over 4000 years ago. Left to weather, it will acquire a green patina; polished it will shine like gold. "Litera Scripta Manet" is a Latin phrase meaning "the written word endures..." It is a reminder in this electronic age of internet sites and sound bites of the power that the written word carries, whether that writing be in great literature, written law, or a cherished love letter...

"Litera Scripta Manet" is often preceded by the Latin phrase "Vox Audita Perit" meaning "The spoken word perishes, the written word endures..."

The phrase "Litera Scripta Manet" appears in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. in a picture on the domed ceiling of the Librarian's Room in the Thomas Jefferson building. This plaque makes a meaningful gift for librarians, lawyers, teachers and all lovers of literature.

The design of this plaque is from an original carved inscription by Irish artist Thomas Little.

Approximately 8 inches wide, and 6.5 inches tall, and 1/2 inch thick.

To see a larger view, please click on the image.