During my artists residency at the Facebook Analog Research Laboratory, I explored hand lettering, in particular historical hand lettering guides from the late nineteenth century known as 'showcard lettering'. These were guides aimed at helping creative shop assistants to produce hand lettered promotional signs. 

Showcard guide books were a very important aspect of Victorian vernacular graphic arts culture, and that is what attracted me to this research and I was eager to incorporate it into my own practice.

'A Marvel in Quality' was listed as a popular Victorian phrase in one of these books. I created an intricate image that emulated the phrase and I added hidden little faces in the surrounding swashes marvelling at the type. See can you spot them!

This piece is a black, red and gold risograph print.