Bara (noun, Welsh language) "bread"
Gami: derived from origami, the art of paper-folding or paper-sculpture.
Baragami is the ancient Welsh decorative art of "toast arranging".
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First documented in Aberystwyth, Wales, baragami involves the presentation of toast in intricate and preferably topical arrangements. Just as haiku should have a reference to the seasons, a skillful baragami endeavours to make reference to current affairs although there are a number of classical toast arrangements. An example of the "topical" aspect of baragami would be the classical "falling house" arrangement, popular after the Word Trade Center disaster. Alternatively, a concept or emotion may form the basis of the pattern.
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The actual date of origin of this nearly extinct art, prior to its rediscovery in Aberystwyth, has not been authenticated, having been lost in the mists of Plynlimon Fawr. Historians have proven that toasting bread was a common activity in Roman times: the Latin root of the word toast being "tostum", which means to scorch or burn. Early cave markings in Ogof Pant y Llyn, Dyfed illustrate that early Welsh nomads prolonged the life of bread by toasting it. Simply impaling a lump of bread on a forked stick or extended fork in front of an open fire permitted a few basic designs, but was not really conducive to the flowering of baragami as an elaborate art form. The heyday of baragami required the invention of the electric toaster (Crompton & Co, England, 1893) and the development of the machine that sliced and wrapped bread (Frederick Rohwedder, Chillicothe, Missouri, 1928) to produce the larger quantities of toast required. Early toasteddfods relied on the wives and daughters of baragamists to hand-slice large quantities of bread and toast it on racks suspended in front of a fire. The standard square loaf removed the need to trim irregular slices to a workable standard shape and size.
In spite of better slicers and toasters and even home breadmakers that allow the production of interesting textures and colours, baragami is in decline and is now practised by only a few enthusiasts. Practitioners can be found among Welsh ex-pats worldwide, but with fewer youngsters taking up the art, their numbers are dwindling. A Welsh heritage organisation are considering teaching baragami in schools alongside the Welsh language and urge the development of a computer package allowing virtual baragami, perhaps in a worldwide online community.
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I'm sure you're gob-smacked by these photographs, but realize these represent only flat arrangements. The 3-D arrangements are stupefying.
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