The quill
The ancient Roman quill is a ready-cut, genuine goose feather that you can use to create beautiful pieces of writing in the traditional way.
Penna scriptoria - Become a calligrapher!
From ancient times to the Middle Ages, real goose feathers were used for writing on papyrus and parchment. Now you too can put elegantly curved letters on paper with the Roman quill. The quill is prepared for you so that you can start practising calligraphy straight away. Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of this historical method of writing.
Special charm for letters, certificates and invitations
Once you have developed a feel for the Roman pen, you can use it again and again to write very special documents. Create certificates for anniversaries or birthdays, for example, or add a touch of uniqueness to your wedding invitation cards. Vary the width of the tip to play with different effects. There are no limits to your creativity here.
- genuine goose feather
- Length: 25 to 30 cm
- Suitable for: writing and calligraphy
- Can be cut to size several times
- unhardened quill
For a more robust tip: harden in quartz sand
If you want to give your Roman nib more stability, you can harden it in heated quartz sand. Use bird sand, for example. Heat this in an old pot until it is about lukewarm. Then stick the tip of the goose feather into the warm sand and leave it to harden for a few minutes.
Your new Roman nib
As goose feathers are a natural product, you can vary the length of your Roman nib slightly. In any case, the nib is cut ready for writing so that you can start writing immediately after unpacking without having to harden it. If required, you can cut the nib to different widths at any time.
General information about the nib
Who wouldn't want to go back in time and write like the Romans? All you need is papyrus or parchment, ink and - an antique quill. If you want to explore the origins of our modern writing culture and understand the development of the pencil, ballpoint pen or penholder, you absolutely must try it with an ancient quill.
You can experience history live and understand where our modern writing instruments originated. If you compare the tip of an antique nib cut to size with the nib of a modern fountain pen, you will see that it is not only the names that are similar in terms of the word "nib".
In the 4th century AD, reeds were replaced by bird feathers as a writing instrument on parchment. Preference was given to feathers from the wings of geese, so-called wing feathers. The lower part of the feathers was sharpened. This had to be repeated depending on the wear of the tip and the intensity of writing with an antique quill. This is why pocket knives still often have a small extra blade for sharpening the quills.
The Romans called a quill penna scriptoria. Even today, you can write special, unique letters with an antique quill. Greeting cards or invitations are given a special touch and can be individually designed as something special. Handwritten documents or certificates can be given more originality and expressiveness with a nib. Antique nibs are particularly suitable for all types of calligraphy and thoughtful writing.
In the Roman Shop you will find papyrus, ink in various colors and a selection of nibs as they were used in Roman times, including the Penna Scriptoria. The Penna Scriptoria is a genuine goose quill with a tip that is cut ready for writing. The tip can be cut several times and individually and can also be hardened with heated bird sand if required. The feather is 25 - 30 cm long.
Experiencing history is not expensive. Writing nibs are a special writing experience for young and old.
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