{"id":1617,"date":"2023-11-17T16:44:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T15:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calligraphie.adlania.net\/writing-instruments-and-supports\/"},"modified":"2023-11-17T16:44:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T15:44:05","slug":"writing-instruments-and-supports","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/calligraphie.adlania.net\/en\/writing-instruments-and-supports\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing instruments and supports"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/i>Chapter 9<\/span><\/span><\/div>

Writing instruments and supports<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

For centuries, calligraphers have used a variety of instruments and supports to write and create their works. Pens carved from reed or other precious materials such as bone, silver and gold, were essential for calligraphy. Their precise size and careful preparation were necessary to trace impeccable lines. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

1. The instruments<\/h2>\n

1.1 Calamus (Qalam)<\/h4>\n

The Arabic word “qalam” corresponds to the Greek word “calamos” or “calamus” in Latin. It refers to a quill pen cut from feather or reed, and has been used for writing since its origins. It comprises three elements: a smooth, shiny outer layer, called the “bone” or “batn al-qalam”; a porous part, called the “fat” or “chahmat al-qalam”, which must be removed; and between the two, a more fibrous layer, the “flesh” or “al-qichra”. <\/p>\n

Knowing how to properly trim the calamus is a basic necessity. The width of the beak should be, on average, half the outside diameter. The operation is carried out in four stages: opening, carving, splitting and cutting. <\/p>\n

In his work entitled “Al-Fihrist”, Ibn Nadim (936-995) lists several types of feather or reed pens (calamus):<\/p>\n