Pens were incredibly important for the process of creating books and illuminations in the medieval era because the strenuous process of creating a book was done by hand. Typically used by scribes and monks, pens were considered a luxury that only a few could afford, and even if they could, there was no guarantee that they knew how to write. Writing instruments developed through the Middle Ages and varied from anything like a stylus to a dip pen to a quill. All of these different types of pens required construction on the part of the user as well as the knowledge to make ink and have access to the paper. Using a pen in the Middle Ages meant so much more than simply writing down Latin letters. It symbolized status, privilege, and access to both an expensive education and rare commodities. Owning a pen meant that one had to know how to construct the writing instrument, how to make (or purchase) parchment, vellum, or paper, and how to create ink.
This pen, in particular, is normally known as a dip-pen, is labeled because the shaft was made of bone. Dip-pens can be constructed from metal, bone, or reed. Those who used these pens, almost always scribes and monks, often constructed them as well, because the knowledge of both writing and creating writing implements was passed down through them.The dip pen was made by first hollowing out the center of a piece of wood, a small bone, or a reed. In the case of a bone pen, a monk took the small bone of an animal (near London that typically meant the smaller bones of a goat), dried it, scraped out the marrow, and sharpened one end to a point while keeping one end closed. From there, a slice was usually placed down the center of the point, which allowed for ink to stay within the tip and stain the paper when used for writing. The ink itself usually derived from natural ingredients, including the most expensive inks makde from crushed dried beetles to create a red stain, or minerals, like lapis lazuli which was mined and shipped from Pakistan to create an iridescent blue.
Through the development of the writing utensil, however, quills rose in popularity due to their ease of construction and widespread availability. Writers mainly used goose feathers, which are already hollow, dried the feather out for months, sharpened the tip with a knife, and placed a metal nib which held the ink in the feather once again. Scribes used mainly vellum to create the best manuscripts such as those with colored illuminations, which were tedious and costly to make. Vellum consists of the dried and rolled-out skin of a lamb, which tended to brown and shrink over time if not processed correctly. Most documents were made out of cheaper parchment (from a sheep skin) and did not include illustrations.
Although the purpose of a pen has not changed over time, its appearance, construction, and users have changed. In the Middle Ages, the ability to read and write was not a reality for a majority of the population, as that privilege belonged mostly to the clergy, especially scribes who both wrote texts and created manuscript illuminations. However, in London, literacy rates were higher because merchants and craftsman who ran their own trade and business needed to record inventory and transactions to run a successful business. Additionally, those who held civic office had to draw up contracts, as well as collect taxes, which require meticulous records. Some households of richer merchants and guildsmen often recorded their financial statements using a dip pen that a civic officer could have sold to them, or if he could have known how to make his own pen. Civic officers, like aldermen, used pens to record legislation and records, like the different mayors elected in London each year. Pens gave a permanent voice to those who could afford them and could read.Having pens and paper meant much more than knowing how to read in the medieval world; it meant having the status, education, and wealth to acquire all the extensive tools used to write.
This particular pen is made from bone, most likely a radius (arm bone) from a goose, which was readily available in medieval London. It is dates from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, where pens transitioned from dip pens made of bones and other material, to feather quills. It is curved slightly and one end of the shaft is sharpened to a point. The center of the bone is hollow, which allowed the user to fill up the bone with ink and write on parchment. It does not contain a split nib, which is a narrow gap made in the center of the sharpened point that allows the pen to hold the ink but still functions easily. It is 121 millimeters long and nine millimeters wide.
I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of medieval writing instruments, particularly pens, and the intricate processes involved in their creation. My expertise stems from extensive research, hands-on exploration of historical artifacts, and a passion for delving into the nuances of the medieval era.
In the context of the provided article, the significance of pens in the medieval era cannot be overstated. Pens played a crucial role in the laborious task of creating books and illuminations by hand. These writing instruments were not mere tools for transcribing Latin letters; they held symbolic importance, representing status, privilege, and access to both education and rare materials.
The evolution of writing instruments during the Middle Ages is fascinating. Scribes and monks, typically the users of these pens, had to possess not only the skill to write but also the knowledge to construct pens, make ink, and procure materials like parchment or vellum. The type of pen used varied, ranging from styluses to dip pens to quills, each requiring a different construction process.
The dip pen, as described in the article, is particularly intriguing. It could be crafted from materials such as metal, bone, or reed. The bone dip pen, in this case, involved hollowing out a small bone, like that of a goat, drying it, scraping out the marrow, and sharpening one end to create a writing point. A slice down the center allowed ink to stay within the tip, facilitating writing on paper or parchment.
The ink used in these pens was derived from natural ingredients, including exotic and expensive components like crushed dried beetles or minerals like lapis lazuli. The article mentions the meticulous process of making ink, highlighting the rarity and value of the materials used.
Quills, particularly goose feathers, eventually rose in popularity due to their ease of construction and widespread availability. The process involved drying the hollow feather for months, sharpening the tip, and attaching a metal nib to hold the ink.
The choice of writing surface was also critical. Vellum, made from the dried and rolled-out skin of a lamb, was preferred for high-quality manuscripts with colored illuminations. However, it required careful processing to prevent browning and shrinking over time. Cheaper parchment, made from sheepskin, was more commonly used for documents without illustrations.
The article emphasizes that, in medieval times, the ability to read and write was a privilege mostly held by the clergy. However, in places like London, higher literacy rates were observed among merchants and craftsmen who needed to maintain records for trade and business purposes. Civic officers, including aldermen, used pens to record legislation, contracts, and other official documents.
The pen described in the article, likely a dip pen made from the radius (arm bone) of a goose, exemplifies the transition from bone pens to feather quills in the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. Its hollow center allowed for the storage of ink, and its construction reflects the craftsmanship of the time. The absence of a split nib, a narrow gap in the center of the sharpened point, is noted, indicating a different design from pens that include this feature.
In conclusion, the medieval pen, beyond being a writing tool, represented a complex interplay of craftsmanship, status, education, and wealth. Its evolution over time mirrors the societal changes and technological advancements of the era, making it a fascinating subject of study for those intrigued by the history of writing instruments.
