Terrace

Through the Mathemalchemy Looking Glass

A deeper incursion in the Tortoise Story

The Terrace is the domain of Horton Conway; his sister Harriet and he co-own Conway’s Curios and this Terrace. He has just checked that everything is ready to welcome visitors. The buffet is set out with cups, saucers and plates – and today he did not forget napkins. Apart from cream tea, visitors can let themselves be tempted by delicacies baked in the Mandelbrot Bakery nearby: the eponymous mandelbrots of course, but also its celebrated tiling pi-cookies with sugar icing.

Seating on the Terrace is provided by two little mats, with nice mouse decorations that recall the mat at the entrance to the Curio Shop downstairs. Visitors with creaky knees who prefer not to sit on the floor, can use one of the three poufs available – over a purple frame, they are covered in fabric so delicate that it is invisible, embroidered with gold thread. Despite their similarity, the poufs are not identical, as is brought out by the embroidery.

In between bites of cookie and sips of tea, visitors can also look through the small telescope, possibly pondering the mechanisms of the heavens. Right now, Horton is using the telescope to inspect what is going on in the Bay – what strange knotical creatures has that boat captured today? Maybe he’ll turn his observations in new small sketches for his next coloring book …