BSR - Scribal Implements

BSR - Scribal Implements

“The pen is a key that opens the door to the necessities of life.” This group of Ottoman scribal implements consists of three pairs of steel scissors and a steel rule all inlaid with gold; a silver and gilt pen box and inkwell; two pen rests, one in ivory and the other of gold inlaid steel; a gold inlaid steel pen; a cylindrical implement holder painted with floral sprays; two further inkwells, one in brass and the other in silver with a turquoise stud; and a lobed silver and gilt pot. The elegant execution of the tools reflects the understanding of the writers that beautiful tools contributed to the creation of beautiful writing (calligraphy). Islamic artisans have produced exquisite scribal implements and other related objects, including scribe’s boxes, pen boxes and inkwells. Lavishly decorated with precious metal inlays or painted designs under varnish these tools connect us to scribes and bookmakers of the past. (BSR document)

Images (c) Aga Khan Museum.

1700s-1800s

Images (c) Aga Khan Museum, CC-NC-BY

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Turkey