Reed pen

Egyptian reed pens inside ivory and wooden palettes, the Louvre[1]

A Reed pen (Greek: κάλαμοι kalamoi; singular κάλαμος kalamos) is a writing implement made by cutting and shaping a single reed straw or length of bamboo. Reed pens with regular features such as a split nib have been found in Ancient Egyptian sites dating from the 4th century BC. Reed pens were used for writing on papyrus, and were the most common writing implement in antiquity.

Reed pens are stiffer than quill pens cut from feathers and do not retain a sharp point for as long. This led to them being replaced by quills.[2] Nevertheless a reed pen can make bold strokes, and it remains an important tool in calligraphy.[3]

To make a reed pen, scribes would take an undamaged piece of reed about 20 cm, and leave the end that would be cut into point in water for some time (so it would not splinter when it’s cut). They crafted a series of cuts that would cut the nib of the pen until it is flat enough and pointed. The pointed end is then cut off. It is not too far from the point so it can form a squared end suitable for writing. At the end they would start the split (which acts as a primitive ink barrel) from the tip of the nib and lengthen it until it is of the proper length (but not too much because the pen could break). Being skilled at making reed pens was important for scribes due to low durability of the pen.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Palette de scribe". Antiquités égyptiennes du Louvre (in French).
  2. ↑ Glossary definition Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. from cartage.org
  3. ↑ Gottfried Pott – A Look into the World of Calligraphy from Linotype.com
  4. ↑ History of Reed Pen from historyofpencils.com
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