The Artwork of Alan Irwin

Tengwar Stave, 2008

Maple

1 inch diameter x 15½ inches length

Pyrography, Tengwar Script

This stave is engraved with Tengwar script. Tengwar was created by J. R. R. Tolkien to illustrate his stories (e.g. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings). This phrase is the inscription on the Gate of Moria, and translates into English as “The doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend, and enter.”

The lettering is burned into the maple wood.

As with each piece in my Script series, I’m more interested in the abstract patterns created by the script than the meanings created by the source language.

Tengwar 4-Sided Spinning Die, 2008

Mahagony and Ebony

1¼ inches x 1¼ inches x 2¼ inches

Pyrography, Tengwar Script

This 4-sided die is engraved with Tengwar script for the numbers 1 through 4. Tengwar was created by J. R. R. Tolkien to illustrate his stories (e.g. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings).

This die is constructed similarly to a top or a dreidel so that it can be spun by the thumb and forefinger. Each of the four sides has a unique symbol that identifies the numbers 1 through 4.

Although a part of my Script series (as well as the Kinetic series), the meaning of the symbols is a stronger than usual element in the design of this object. This is a fully functional 4 sided die that is meant to be used, and so the numeric transliteration of these symbols was used in its design.