Quill Pen Holder
1800-1850 / Object / Organic / Other / Wesleyana
Nacre; metal
c.1780-1810
This nacre (or mother-of-pearl) pen with a bust of John Wesley was used as a holder for feather quills. It is, effectively, the precursor of the fountain pen. A quill would be cut from a feather by retaining only an inch or so of the 'stalk' of the feather. This was then slid into the metal aperture and cut at the end, to retain ink when dipping the quill end into an inkwell.
c.1780-1810
This nacre (or mother-of-pearl) pen with a bust of John Wesley was used as a holder for feather quills. It is, effectively, the precursor of the fountain pen. A quill would be cut from a feather by retaining only an inch or so of the 'stalk' of the feather. This was then slid into the metal aperture and cut at the end, to retain ink when dipping the quill end into an inkwell.
