A Fancy Quill Pen
Quill pens require some practice to master, but their beauty speaks for itself. You can use any bottled ink you desire with them; however, quality paper will make writing without bleeding easier.
Feathers must first be treated in order to use them as writing implements. There are various techniques used to harden the shaft, most involving immersing them in hot ashes for several minutes before cutting a small slit in them that holds ink that will flow up capillary action to reach its destination: the tip.
1. History
Quill pens were once one of the most widely used writing utensils. Composed from feathers from birds like swans, geese and turkeys during their new growth phase after moulting, quill pens are made with soft feather tips treated with hot ashes or boiling water to soften and hold ink while remaining flexible enough to glide across paper easily.
These quill pens were used to draft many important historic documents, such as the Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson even raised geese so as to ensure an ample supply of feathers was available; to this day, 20 goose-quill pens are placed at each counsel table when Supreme Court sessions commence.
2. Design
Quill pens were used to author most medieval manuscripts, and are still preferred by professional scribes and calligraphers today. Although relatively delicate writing instruments, quill pens require regular trimming with a pen knife to maintain proper size. Furthermore, their nib (the end of feather that dips into ink) must be regularly immersed into an inkwell for cleaning in order to prevent clogging and leakage of ink into writing surface.
Feathers were typically harvested from geese and swans, though crow, owl, hawk, turkey and other large bird feathers may also be utilized. Quills typically feature the shape of traditional pen nibs with slits to control ink flow through an internal hollow shaft of feather known as the calamus.
3. Materials
An elaborate quill pen can be constructed from any long bird feather (ideally goose or swan) with capillary action to hold ink, and very pressure sensitive material like bamboo shoots or reeds for added support. Since quill pens use capillary action to hold ink and are pressure sensitive they are responsive to both line thickness and writing style.
To create a quill pen you must first make two cuts on the tip of your feather, shaping its tip to look like a traditional nib and creating two slits to control ink flow from within its storage in the hollow shaft (known as calamus). Capillary action ensures that even when held upside down the ink will not come pouring out all at once.
4. Function
Quill pens function through capillary action; their hollow shaft (known as a “calamus”) holds ink that flows freely down its narrow slit to reach the tip. When prepared properly, quill points remain sharp for extended periods without needing frequent sharpening.
The highest-grade quills come from the primary flight feathers of large birds like geese, swans, or turkeys and should be cut during their new growth period after moulting.
After treating and shaping the end of a feather into the shape of a traditional pen nib, a slit is cut in its tip to control ink flow. Next, the pen can be filled with ink for use and used to write. Finally, after each use it must be rinsed and dried so as to maintain its tip and ensure optimal use.
