Cake Competition

Last week I saw one of the most valuable books in Scotland but today in Durham I saw several very much older and dating from the 7th and 8th centuries. The most famous being the Lindisfarne Gospels.
This is a manuscript of a copy of the four Gospels of the New Testament and produced around AD715 in honour of St Cuthbert who was one of the most important early British Christians. It is a beautifully illustrated book and because it is so precious can be on view for only 3 months every 7 years and at present is on loan from the British Library. The illustrations and script are most impressive and believed to be the work of just one man, Eadfrith.

Possibly Eadfrith would have planned his illustrations on wax tablets before then using goose feather pens, 90 coloured inks which he made from soot, local plants and minerals and a tiny bit of gold. It probably took him several years to complete as he had other responsibilities as Bishop.

Today there was a competition of cakes based on the Lindisfarne Gospels and this photo shows some of them. The Viking ship represents the plundering of Lindisfarne which led to the monks fleeing with their precious books and Cuthbert’s coffin. I was impressed with the cake based upon Eadfrith which shows the writing of a page using the quill pen, the special blue ink, wax tablets and gold. Also included is the ring and pectoral cross which were found in Cuthbert’s coffin. It too was a real work of art but unlike Eadfrith’s will not last over 1300 years! (best in large)