How a Feather Quill Pen Works
Quill pens were an important writing instrument during the Middle Ages. Constructed of goose or swan feathers and functioning through capillary action, quill pens provided writers with an effective writing tool.
This pen features an end that has been cut to emulate a classic nib shape and contains a small slit to regulate ink flow – similar to how bamboo dip pens work!
Feather
Feather quill pens work by allowing ink to seep through capillary action from the hollow shaft of a large bird’s feather, typically one from goose, swan or turkey species as these have the strongest and most durable feathers for writing with. Once selected, these feathers were often treated by dipping them in hot ashes before writing began; this softened them sufficiently so ink could be drawn onto them using a nib.
Utilizing a quill pen requires practice and skill. For optimal results, start off using thicker paper such as construction or textured printing paper before transitioning into conventional writing papers. It is also crucial that light pressure be applied – too much could rip or tear the paper or blunt your nib.
Quill pens were the dominant writing tools until metal pens became widespread in mass production in the 19th century. Quill pens were used to pen many important documents such as Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson even kept geese at Monticello to provide feathers for his quill pens!
Nib
The nib is the end of a feather that holds and controls the flow of ink, cut in the form of a traditional pen nib with a slit to facilitate capillary action between its hollow center, called calamus, and its tip.
Feathers were traditionally harvested from geese and swans, however other types of birds such as turkeys, crows and owls have also been used for quill creation. For maximum effectiveness the strongest quills should come from living birds during their spring growth period.
These quill pens feature white beads embroidered onto brown silk and one displays an inscription: “In Memory of L.M.Isaacson 1846 Born Jan 4” while the other displays a scroll-shaped name embroidered upon it. Both pens were likely used for writing before steel nibbed dip pens were introduced during Victorian era which made these obsolete writing instruments.
Barrel
Quill pens feature a slit at their ends for holding ink, which can be cut and shaped to suit various writing tasks – whether fine point writing or broad calligraphic lines. Traditionally, quills were created from geese or swan feathers collected after spring molt; today however, feathers from turkeys, crows, hawks, and owls can also be utilized.
After shaping, the quill must be tempered so it will maintain its point over an extended period. This process may involve leaving it in a drawer for several days or being heated in hot sand to achieve this result.
These quill pens were decorated with an infant’s name embroidered onto silk fabric and may have been used for writing up until steel nibbed pens became more widely popular; both pieces remain in good condition today.
Ink
Quill pens operate through capillary action, meaning ink travels along a narrow slit from the hollow shaft (known as the calamus) up through to its tip in an upward stream. Because of this mechanism, if you hold one upside-down the ink will not just pour out; therefore, when using this writing instrument it is necessary to carefully control pressure applied on paper using it.
Quilled pens were the go-to writing tools in the Middle Ages, replacing reed and bamboo pens that failed to maintain their points properly. Quillled pens were used extensively on important documents like Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson even kept geese at Monticello solely to provide him with writing quills!
At our shop, we carry an impressive range of real feather quill pens, calligraphy dip pens, ceramic inkwells, and writing inks to get you started with ancient art forms like calligraphy or quilling. Each tool requires practice before use becomes second nature – so be sure you have everything needed.