Hagley Museum and the pen

Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
515
So, I volunteered at Hagley Museum yesterday as a part of my training from POWER, an Autism Spectrum program to help people like me overcome our obstacles and obtain/hold jobs. And, me, being an absolute sucker for money-spending, went immediately to the gift shop there afterwards, after seeing some gorgeous Civil War era sabers and boxes, giant books and whatnot in the museum itself, and came out of the gift shop with a five finger vase for my Grandmother, and a surprisingly pretty silver plated inkwell with a ribbed glass repository, three ornate, but mass produced silver plated feet, a quill holder offshoot, and a feather quill pen, the greatest gift of them all, to me, besides the ink itself. It has a metal nib, so it is a more modern version of the quill pen, but nonetheless, it is a fine, understated writing instrument with exceptionally light weight, control, and it flows, while still inked up, like water, producing fine lines I cannot achieve with even the finest art pens. It is truly a privilege to write with it, it could be on par with the best writing instruments known to man, like Mont Blanc and the finest fountain pens around, and for twenty two dollars, it is relatively cheap.
True, it is almost worthless outside the house. I cannot imagine me stuffing the inkwell into my pocket, the feather quill under my watch bracelet, and venturing into the suburban 'outback' like so, without suffering inkstained pants and several nasty pokes from the deadly sharp quill. While those are trivial hurts to me, they are nonetheless, hurts I would do better to not sustain. My quill pen is a fine writing instrument, made for people who had the time to take a pen knife and sharpen the quill, dip it in ink, and write on parchment with gentle calligraphic strokes. I, of course, chicken scratch my Moleskine notebook with all the care and gentleness of a rampaging rhinoscerous, but nonetheless...the quill pen is an ancient instrument, and I find it almost therapeutic to use, like it transports me to an age where people carefully hand copied or wrote everything, instead of hastily typing it up. Sure, not everyone was as concerned as scholars were at the time, but most surviving works are works of care, yet there is something to be said about taking time out of your day for you, taking time out of your day to honor the past and preserve it for the future, if only by massacring a notebook with my horrific writing.
I wanted to know, most of all, however, what the blade fanatics I have grown to appreciate and befriend have to say about my seemingly crazy, but surprisingly sound idea of getting some feathers, fashioning an olden day quill pen, and writing a journal, starting a novel, writing nonsense, doing anything to this effect through any chosen medium, to help preserve the past by action alone. You could be hand hewing a beam for a house, or cooking something old school with tools of eld...it does not always matter what you do, as much as WHY you do it.
Well, I'll let you all think on that note, and leave you to it. Respond if you wish to, I would greatly appreciate it.
Peace everyone.
David
 
We still used "fountain pens" when I was in public school. You might find one in a second hard shop or ePrey.
 
Really? That is super cool. I have a love-hate relationship with Ebay. However much profit I have gotten from it, however many gifts have been fulfilled, I will still never quite like it from my bad experiences on it with rude people or me being rude to them for unknown reasons, mutual dislike comes to mind.... But, you have to make do sometimes. I still like the quill idea best, but there is something attractive about having a less...maintennance worthy ink source, which is probably why the fountain came into existences. Anyway, thanks for sharing, and peace.
David
 
I remember making pens from turkey feathers back in the 60's in school. Strangely, no one was suprised when a boy had a knife in his pocket back then. They were of much use in fashioning "pens".

Remember it's the split that allows the transfer of ink from the reservior and don't make the res too large (it has to be just big enough to use surface tension to remain full).
 
When I was in high school many years ago, it was cool to use a fountain pen. The ones we used had replaceable plastic cartridges that held the ink.
 
To cut a quill, one uses a "pen knife." Ever wonder where that word came from?

A quill is the essential broad nibbed pen, with which most western-style calligraphy is created. It is an engaging artform, and can be used to enhance tranquillity and inner vision as well as create beautiful written pieces. This is a great starting book if you want to begin exploring the discipline.


Here is a piece I made for one of my elderly Chinese friends, who happens to be a master calligrapher with the brush, showing examples of four historical styles that were written with the broad nibbed pen.

226782_1041021660308_1068564063_30136416_7887_n.jpg


Historically in the west, a fine hand was considered the mark of a refined gentleman. In many traditional cultures it still is. Your quill and inkwell could show you the way down this path, if you listen carefully to them.
 
I still use fountain pens all the time. Pilot varsity makes a good disposable for about 2 bucks a pop, take a look on Amazon. I once made the mistake of visiting the Colorado Pen website. Almost as dangerous as HIKV!
 
Well, I am glad people still have a respect for their writing heritage. Thanks for sharing Howard, that was really...inspiring, actually, though, coming from you, that is no surprise. My mom read your post, Howard, and she thought you were some sort of storyteller, too :) Good to hear from you all. I'll leave this open so anyone else who wants to can chime in. Peace. And yes, I agree, Raghorn, they are dangerously addictive! Pens, cars, gadgets, electronics, tools, knives, all sorts of things like that can bring even a demigod of a man to his knees from sheer wanting, even if he swore on his mother to window shop only. I know the feeling first hand, unfortunately, yet fortunately, enough. Peace again, I have to go to an assessment that might or might not get me a job. Wish me luck, please!
David
 
Back
Top