Royal Accounts on a Wax TabletJean Sarrazin

This wax tablet (1256–57) belonged to Jean Sarrazin, chamberlain of Louis IX. Made of maple coated with resinous wax, it was inscribed with a stylus for temporary use before records were copied onto parchment. Erased by smoothing, such tablets served as practical draft registers. This example preserves royal treasury accounts once held by the Templars.