Record ID: DEV-C263BB
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, bent cast copper-alloy pen of uncertain date, probably early post-medieval (c. 16th century, or slightly earlier). Its truncated shaft is missing its terminal but retains part of a central panel decorated with four longitudinal rows of linked lozengiform facets, with hollows between. Below is a plain, narrow section, between the lozengiform decoration on the shaft and the lanceolate end. There is a bevelled groove along each side of the lanceolate area, creating four reservoirs to hold the ink. The lanceolate end is 26 mm in length, and 5 mm at i…
Created on: Thursday 22nd September 2022
Last updated: Thursday 29th September 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DEV-4C8D18
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy pen nib dating to the post medieval period, c. AD 1700-1822. The object is formed of a curving sheet of copper alloy which is initially rectangular in shape, although curved to create an arc that would have wrapped around the pen handle. It then tapers to a broken point. The outer surface is decorated with a series of two grooves which wrap horizontally around the nib at the midpoint of the broad upper section. The point of the nib is also decorated with seemingly vertical lines, although this is obscured by an accretion which spreads around onto the re…
Created on: Sunday 17th January 2021
Last updated: Saturday 23rd January 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ottery St Mary CP', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LON-40280A
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete Post Medieval pressed copper alloy writing aid dating from the AD 1887-1900. The aid is made of pressed copper alloy in the form of thumb and two socketed fingers gripping around a central hole for a pen. Around the nail of the thumb is stamped BARTERS PATENT. Dimensions: length: 43.28mm; width: 29.78mm; thickness: 13.78mm; weight: 3.26g.
Created on: Monday 25th February 2019
Last updated: Monday 13th January 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: WILT-47B951
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete (five pieces) copper-alloy post-medieval traveller's writing set, dating to the period AD 1800-1900. It consists of an etui (case), the lid, the inkwell/base, the pen and a possible quill/unidentified organic material. The lid is cylindrical and hollow, measuring 22.79mm in length, 13.79mm in width, and weighs 3.92g. At the top there is a moulded ridge, and two concentric bands, parallel to one another, beneath it. At the very base of the lid are two further concentric bands. It is dark brown in colour. This attaches to the etui, or the case, which contains the pen an…
Created on: Friday 2nd February 2018
Last updated: Friday 9th March 2018
No spatial data available.

Record ID: LON-8BC7C4
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A medieval - post medieval copper alloy pen dating (13th - 16th century). This pen has a faceted shaft that terminates at one end with a globular knop that has a discoid top. At the opposite end of the shaft there is a four-sided lanceolate end with a bevelled groove filed along each side to form the point. The shaft is bent. Dimensions: length: 105.36mm; width of nib: 5.48mm; thickness of nib: 6.20mm; diameter of shaft: 3.14mm; weight: 7g. A very similar example is published in Egan (1998:271 no. 898) with reference to other published examples that are tentatively dated to …
Created on: Monday 10th August 2015
Last updated: Thursday 17th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: WMID-DF1FD5
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Walsall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy possible handle dating from the Post Medieval period (AD 1600 - 1900). The handle is sub triangular in plan and circular in cross section. The top of the handle is wider than the bottom, and has a hole in the centre, it is unclear how far the hole goes down the object. The handle is decorated with a number of sections varying in size, some of these are reel shaped (ie concave in the centre) and some are sub circular, two sections from the top of the handle is a larger section that is decorated with a twist like pattern (resembling twisted rope). The handle t…
Created on: Friday 15th August 2014
Last updated: Tuesday 19th August 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SUR-CBD5AE
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Milton Keynes
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A late medieval or early post medieval cast copper alloy pen; the terminal is missing and the shaft is bent. A section across the head of the pen takes the form of a cross. The shaft is knobbed to provide a grip when holding. A few of pens of this type have been recorded including a few on the PAS database. See for example a pen from London (Egan 1998, Fig.209 no.898). Egan suggests a date in the 16th century on comparison with similar handles on cutlery of that period.
Created on: Monday 2nd June 2014
Last updated: Monday 23rd June 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-D25A83
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a medieval copper alloy pen: the integral shank or handle is missing and only one end survives, broken where it widens into four flanged grooves which taper to a point. Length >26mm. Width 5mm. Probably used for ink rather than wax, one such pen was found with charters and other documents under flooring at Canterbury Cathedral. See image and discussion in Alexander and Binski 1987, p.383, no.422. A complete pen was found in Beachamwell, Norfolk in 1990 (HER 2635). 13th century.
Created on: Tuesday 16th October 2012
Last updated: Friday 19th October 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'SNETTERTON', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LVPL-774054
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Rochdale
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Copper alloy nib from a Post-Medieval pen, probably 15/16th century in date. It is incomplete, and slightly bent. It has a Y shaped cross section with 3 ribs, one of these has broken. This point would have led to a thin handle. A more complete example has been recorded on the database as DOR-173638.
Created on: Friday 9th January 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-DA7F11
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Published
A cast copper-alloy pen of uncertain date, probably early post-medieval. The shaft has a central panel decorated with four longitudinal rows of linked lozengiform facets, with hollows between; this central panel is 51mm long. At the top is a globular knop with a flattened, sub-circular top. Between the knop and the lozengiform faceted decoration the shaft is plain and circular in cross-section for a length of 10mm. There is a similar plain, narrow section at the opposite end, this time 19.5mm long, between the lozengiform decoration on the shaft and the lanceolate end. The knop is 5mm…
Created on: Friday 14th November 2008
Last updated: Friday 28th February 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-173638
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy pen Medieval date. A cast copper-alloy pen with a lozenge faceted and twisted shaft. The shaft narrows into a plain, circular sectioned length at the distal end and and terminates in a rounded knop. There is a similar plain, narrow section between the faceted decoration and the lanceolate end. The lanceolate end has four curving, flat foils and tapers to a point. The shaft has been bent. See Egan, G, 1998, Medieval Household, no. 898. Date: Probably Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval - c. 1400 - 1550 Dimensions: 84.56 mm x 6.30 mm x 6.27 mm Weight: 5.96 g A simi…
Created on: Monday 21st May 2007
Last updated: Tuesday 6th October 2015
Spatial data recorded.