Bread stamp, Iceland

The inscription on this wooden stamp is carved in reverse so it reads the right way around when pressed into wet bread dough.

Translation reveals it to be short a prayer of thanks: ‘Iceland, year 1876 JD; May the Lord bless this bread on our table in order to diminish the sore pain of hunger; this every single man should say.’

‘JD’ is likely to be the maker’s initials. 

Collected and donated by Thomas Nelson Annandale in 1900.

Accession number: 1900.13.2.