Calligraphy Set from Undomilek

Ornate fountain pens with exchangeable nibs that used to be status symbols before technology marched on.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Pen Nib

The expensive pens usually came with a set of exchangeable nibs, ending in different shapes for different calligraphy styles. They were made of stainless steel with precious metal plating and often featured ornamental engravings. Calligraphy sets usually came with an elegant box for storing them alongside the pen itself.

Ink Reservoir

The ink was held in a glass capsule inside the main body. An adjustment screw embedded into the outer casing served to move a plug inside this chamber to either suck up fresh ink or clear out the remaining amount. When not in use, the nib was covered with a tightly screwed-on cap to keep the ink from drying out.

Significance

Pre-Industrial Age

While the port town of Undomilek was primarily known for exporting tea, the trade hub to the northeast of the Zugderi Sea also attracted a fair number of scholars through the ages. The scribes handling the commercial accounting soon started offering their services to scientists, chroniclers, cartographers and many other groups. As a consequence, writing tools and the art of using them evolved quickly. For a long time, well-educated families all around the Zugderi Sea prided themselves on owning writing supplies manufactured in Undomilek.

Technological Progress

When typewriters became widely accessible, handwriting soon declined in popularity among the Rilanga. Typing documents was seen as neat and progressive whereas writing by hand was left to the dreamers and hopeless romantics. This trend predictably continued when computers and personal printers were invented. By 12 NZR, only a handful of small factories and workshops were left to produce the once-famous writing tools. However, a number of families continued to pass down their former status symbols as family heirlooms, often taking great care to keep them in good condition.

Turn of the Eras

After the Final War destroyed most of Ranul's infrastructure, handwriting regained much of its former importance. Fountain pens, in particular, were easier to refill and took up less space than typewriters, which is why a fair number of survivors had taken them to the shelters. Most of those pens are now important historical artifacts, either displayed in museums or owned by collectors. For instance, the one used by Zuniv the Comprehender is now found in the Denfa Sasmi Museum.

Modern Day

The rise of the Rilsu civilization saw a similar pattern of handwriting becoming obsolete. However, there are still numerous artists who prefer analog media for various reasons. Calligraphy sets based on the original Undomilek designs are popular presents for freshly graduated art students or novel authors who have published their first bestseller.

by Kathrin Janowski

Alternative name(s)

Undomilek keb Hus Netrusaket

Item type

Tool

Rarity

uncommon

Dimensions

15 - 20 cm long
1.5 - 2 cm in diameter

Raw materials & Components

carved wood, resin, glass capsule with movable plug, stainless steel, precious metals

by Kathrin Janowski

Further Reading