Artefacts for Use In Writing

Evidence of semi-pictographic writing goes back to the Harappan culture and that of the Brahmi script to the Mauryan Age. Palm-leaf manuscripts survive from about a 1000 years ago and those on paper from 800 years.
For inscribing on palm leaves, a pointed iron stylus was used. Some of these were adorned with silverwork and kept inside ivory cases. For drawing circles and curves, an iron compass with a pair of folded nibs for a droplet of link was utilised. A pen with a similar pair of folded nibs was used for drawing straight lines. The actual writing was done by reed-pens.
Brass ink-well and pen-cases of various designs were used. After writing, to quicken the drying process of ink, sand was sprinkled over it to serve the purpose of a blotting paper. For this too, special containers were made.
Pen-cases with fine lacquer work came from Kashmir or Rajasthan. Wooden ‘slates’ with ornate borders and pictures of Ganesha/Saraswati, often with painted letters of the alphabet, were used by beginners to learn writing by repeatedly going over the letters with a dry, dummy pen. While reading, the manuscripts were placed on painted or carved wooden book-holders. The manuscripts were stored in wooden or cardboard boxes which were often painted. The scribe wrote in straight lines which were arrived at by folding the paper as per the requirement. Some manuscripts had painted illustrations. An individual’s astrological statement was usually made on scroll.