Feather Quill Pen
Classical Antiquity through to the 19th Century saw feather quill pens become the go-to writing utensil of choice for both written and hand drawn literature creation.
Traditional quills were typically constructed of goose or swan feathers; other large bird feathers could also be used. Their duration depended upon each writer’s writing habits; in some instances, quills might last as long as one week.
Choosing the Right Feather
Feather quill pens have long been considered symbols of communication. But they may also represent something antiquated and old-fashioned; reminding people of past practices.
Scribes used turkey, swan and goose feathers to craft their pens; however, its cut quality that truly matters. Primary flight feathers shed by birds during annual moulting should provide strong quills; writer should also select feathers from either wing so their pen fits comfortably in their hand.
Scribes typically strip and temper feathers before cleaning them in order to prepare them for writing instruments, with some also shaving off any outer membrane and cleaning their nibs. While these steps are not strictly necessary, they can help ensure a longer lifetime for their pen as well as greater control over its nib. A calamus is located within each feather that regulates ink flow through an ink slit located within its hollow center – thus creating more control of where ink flows when writing with that pen.
Choosing the Right Ink
Scribes used quill pens for centuries. Their shape-retaining capabilities made them superior to bamboo or reed pens used at that time; Thomas Jefferson kept geese at Monticello specifically to provide him with quills for writing purposes!
Quill pens are created by cutting a bird’s flight feather into a point and slitting its shaft so ink can flow in through capillary action – this allows scribes to make precise marks in various styles of writing.
Quill pens are extremely pressure-sensitive writing implements, so proper posture and hand positioning when using one are critical to its use. Incorrect pressure may result in ink blots or sprays. A skilled writer could often get a week’s worth of writing from one quill before needing mending or cutting after every use – they also needed frequent dips into ink supplies to stay flowing smoothly.
Choosing the Right Paper
Quill pens operate using capillary action. Once dipped in ink, their hollow shaft (called calamus) holds back small amounts that it draws towards its tip via a narrow slit before dispensing onto paper when pressure is applied by the writer.
Feather pens should be handled with care as too much hand pressure can result in unsightly ink blots or even breakage of their feather. Placing it over a felt cushion helped maintain its shape while providing more comfortable writing experiences.
As you start practicing with your new feather quill pen, it is best to start off on thicker paper such as construction or textured stationery. Once you are comfortable with pressure and writing style, more conventional papers like Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter notebooks work great with fountain pen ink.
Practicing
Quill pens utilize capillary action, where ink travels along an invisible tube called the “calamus”. Therefore, even when held upside-down the ink won’t come gushing out!
A nib is the thin slit at the tip of a calamus used to extend ink flow from your pen. You can shape this nib to be more precise when writing or trim it to form broad calligraphic lines; its shape determines both how quickly ink flows out of it and the style of writing that can be produced by it.
When working with a quill pen, use thicker paper such as construction or textured printing paper to get acquainted with its pressure and technique before transitioning to conventional paper – just don’t forget to clean and dry the nib regularly!
