Astenorello
The history of calligraphy covers a period of over 5,000 years and the evolution of its tools is strictly related to the area’s culture and calligraphy styles. It sometimes depends on the available materials of the regions, especially in ancient times.
In this article I’ll show you what the first writing tools were and how a simple thing like a pen can shape calligraphy in different cultures.
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The Origins of Writing Tools
Although Mesopotamia isn’t the place where calligraphy was born, it’s still relevant to mention it. Because it is where the first writing system was invented and knowing the tools scribes used can help to understand better the evolution. At the time scribes would write clay tablets using simply a stylus, that was the standard tool. Even if calligraphy didn’t really exist, writing was still essential as it was a way to record facts of any kind and scribes already played a big role in society.
In Ancient Egypt it was common for scribes to use reed pens to write on papyrus paper. They would write not just hieroglyphics, but hieratics and demotics too, as they were common writings for sacred texts, documents and daily business.
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East Asian Calligraphy Brush
According to a Chinese legend Meng Tian invented the hair brush using camel hair around 250 BCE. However archeology showed that calligraphy is an art older than we thought. In fact, in Ancient China, hair brushes were already used during the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE). And calligraphy with these tools became more prevalent during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Then from China this art spread all over East Asia, including Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
At the beginning the brushes were simple wooden sticks with animal hair, especially goats, wolves and rabbits, that evolved in terms of quality and complexity during centuries. It’s also opportune to remember the high consideration this tool has in Eastern Asian calligraphy culture. It is part of the “Four Treasures”, along with the ink stick, the ink stone and the rice paper, that represent the essential tools for every calligrapher.
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Islamic Cane Pen
Since Islam teaches not to represent any living being, after the 7th-century calligraphy was regarded as a sacred art. In the Middle East Muslim and Arabic calligraphers were the most regarded artists and it is still so these days. In fact their role was considered sacred since the calligrapher’s primary duty was copying the Quran.
Their tool was a qalam, a reed pen created from hollow reed or bamboo stalk. Every calligrapher cut their own pens by themselves because it was a crucial part of the job and their training. They mainly used paper, parchment, but they also wrote on ceramics, textiles, metalwork and buildings.
Western Calligraphy Tools
Ancient Romans used metal chisels to carve public stone monuments, stylus on wax tablets and reed pens to write on papyrus paper.
During medieval times, monasteries became cultural places to preserve and develop calligraphy techniques. Scribes and monks switched from reed pen to quill pen as it suited more manuscripts’ parchment and vellum. Quill pens were stiff flight feathers of goose and swans, with their tips cut to create a flat broad edge. They were useful to write carolingian, uncial and gothic scripts.
In 800′, the Industrial Revolution and the invention of metal nibs completely changed western calligraphy. In fact, mass production allowed people to have easily printed books. But calligraphy never died and the era of copperplate script began. Its use was mainly for writing letters and official documents.
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Modern Calligraphy Tools
In modern society, calligraphy still exists, but the tools and also its use have changed. Nowadays we have a wide range of tools that include papers, inks and pens of all types. Round, pointed, broad and flat nibs, brushes of all kinds, brush pens and even digital software for art.
Calligraphers are professionals that usually know different styles and they don’t normally write sacred texts anymore like medieval monks. They often write wedding invitations, menus, documents or create works of art.
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Sources
The Ancient Art of Calligraphy: Tools of the Trade , Shodo , Gli stumenti , Calligraphers and Their Tools , The Complete Guide to Calligraphy Art