Pen

From Inventions

Name used since Renaissance times (from the Latin penna, referring to the quill pen used in the past for writing).

Description

Pen point used with ink, made of either a goose quill or a metal such as brass or silver. Vincenzo Scamozzi describes it in his treatise on architecture: “Let the pens be made of our own goose quills, manageable, clear and transparent, and medium-fine… But pens for outlining, and drawing capitals… do not suddenly burn the ink, nor damage the edges of rulers, like those made of Brass, or Silver, or other metals….”

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Bibliographical Resources

Scamozzi, Vincenzo, L’idea della architettura universale, Venezia, 1615, Parte I, Lib. I, Cap. XV, p. 50.

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Existing Instruments

- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 58054
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 85684
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 18926
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 50441

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Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota