Pen Case
circa 1600
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Portable pen cases or penners were hung from the belt along with inkhorns. They were a convenient way to carry writing implements around and remained in use until the late 18th century. Penners were made of ivory, horn, silver or as this one, engraved gilt copper. They were cleverly compartmentalised so quills and other tools could be stored without damaging them. This example could be fastened to a belt by the loops on the sides.
Penners were essential tools for notaries, merchants and scholars. Around 1490, an Oxford schoolmaster reproved his student for being poorly supplied: “Methinkest thou lackest many things that it is need[ful] for a good scholar to have, first a penner and an inkhorn and then books”. Another young scholar of the same date was better equipped: "[At] the last fair, my uncle on my father's side gave me a penner and an inkhorn, and my uncle of my mother's side gave me a penknife. Now and I had a pair of tables, I lacked nothing".
Penners were essential tools for notaries, merchants and scholars. Around 1490, an Oxford schoolmaster reproved his student for being poorly supplied: “Methinkest thou lackest many things that it is need[ful] for a good scholar to have, first a penner and an inkhorn and then books”. Another young scholar of the same date was better equipped: "[At] the last fair, my uncle on my father's side gave me a penner and an inkhorn, and my uncle of my mother's side gave me a penknife. Now and I had a pair of tables, I lacked nothing".
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved brass with traces of gilding |
| Brief description | Copper-gilt. Germany; early-mid 16th century. |
| Physical description | Rectangular case of engraved brass with traces of gilding. Oblong with side attachments, decorated with a bird and arabesques with lion masks holding rings. Pull off cover. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Portable pen cases or penners were hung from the belt along with inkhorns. They were a convenient way to carry writing implements around and remained in use until the late 18th century. Penners were made of ivory, horn, silver or as this one, engraved gilt copper. They were cleverly compartmentalised so quills and other tools could be stored without damaging them. This example could be fastened to a belt by the loops on the sides. Penners were essential tools for notaries, merchants and scholars. Around 1490, an Oxford schoolmaster reproved his student for being poorly supplied: “Methinkest thou lackest many things that it is need[ful] for a good scholar to have, first a penner and an inkhorn and then books”. Another young scholar of the same date was better equipped: "[At] the last fair, my uncle on my father's side gave me a penner and an inkhorn, and my uncle of my mother's side gave me a penknife. Now and I had a pair of tables, I lacked nothing". |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.670-1926 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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