E0407A: Pen Case & Pens

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0407A

Classification Category:

6:Tools & Equipment for Communication ➞ Written Communication T&E

Materials:

metal
botanical ➔ wood

Dimensions:

23 cm L
4.5 cm W
2 cm H

Provenance of Object:

Ottoman Empire

This object was held in the museum that Luther College started in 1877. This museum eventually grew into the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and following this, non-Norwegian American ethnographic objects were returned to Luther and accessioned into the college’s Anthropology Collection. Without additional documentation, was likely obtained by the Luther College Museum (later the Norwegian-American Museum) between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Production Date:

Late 1800s

Use/Function:

The pen-case has an ink well which holds silk fibers soaked with ink and dried to which drops of water can be added when needed. This is a more convenient and portable form of writing utensils which were of accepted use across Asia. These types of cases are seen as early as the 1100s, but were soon used widely by many educated individuals. Pen-cases such as this one were part of the tools of an Ottoman katib, meaning “secretary,” who was a high-ranking political adviser or minister.
There are various forms, ranging in material and decoration, from the less elaborate as we have here to others which when brought to auction houses today still sell for significant amounts of money. The fact that we have these more extravagantly designed cases tells us multiple things about the people using them as well as what they thought of writing. The only people who would need such objects are the literate, but the only ones who could afford them would be the wealthy, so we have an educated upper class. Their ornate nature also suggests that they used them often or placed them at prominent locations to show them off, indicating a high regard for writing. (Hist361)

Source Locality:

China / Japan

Description:

A long, flat, yellow metal pen case with square inkwell attached.

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