Pen: The English word, the French equivalent, plume, and the German, Peder, originally meant a wing-feather. St Isidore of Seville in the 7th century writes about a quill-pen. The hand-cut quill, from birds such as geese, swans and turkeys, was the principal drawing instrument for use with ink until the 19th century. In 1809 Joseph Bramah patented a machine for cutting up a quill into separate nibs. In 1818 Charles Watt patented a process for gilding quills, which could be regarded as the forerunner of the gold nib. In 1822 Hawkins and Mordan patented a method for making nibs from horn and tortoise-shell, the points being made long lasting by attaching small pieces of diamond or ruby. Steel nibs of various trial types, successful and not, started to appear late in the 18th century and by the mid 19th had taken over. The earliest example of a metallic pen was found at Pompeii and is now in Naples Museum. Many Oriental artists have in the past and through till today used pens cut from thin bamboos.

 

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Pen: The English word, the French equivalent, plume, and the German, Peder, originally meant a wing-feather. St Isidore of Seville in the 7th century writes about a quill-pen. The hand-cut quill, . . . View Full Definition

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