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Medieval Scribes, Tools, & Practices A collection of authentic medieval tools used in all aspects of the scribe’s work. This collection, originally organized by Alan Cole, belongs to the Museum of Writing Research Collection, Institute of English Studies, University of London, and is housed in the Senate House Library.

Title Leads

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Brief description Forerunners of the pencil, leads, such as the ones shown here were often used alongside prickers in order to rule pages before a scribe began writing. These writing instruments were also referred to as plummets or metal points. Metal point was a more general term, signifying that the tool could be composed from various types of metal ranging from silver, to lead or copper alloys. Thus, the color of the line was a result of the metal (e.g. gray for lead or silver, or greenish for copper). The tools shown here are all made of lead, but exposure to the elements has caused variation in the color of the tool. These implements were often obtained from the leading of stained-glass windows, which would then be shaped to a point for drawing or writing. When using a metal point, the scribe would be able to leave a visible mark as a result of the metal content in the tool. For instance a lead or silver point would leave a gray mark on the parchment. Hard points provided another means of leaving a mark; however, these tools differed in that they did not leave a colored marking, but instead pulled up material, creating a depression, or a &squo;ridge–and–furrow.’ Hard points were often made from bone or wood, and made a mark through the removal of small amounts of parchment, similar to the effects of a stylus on a wax tablet. Hard points were used frequently prior to the 11th century. Lead points were commonly used during 11th and 12th centuries, until ink began to be used more regularly during the 13th century. The scribe also used leads to draw and annotate during the production of a manuscript. Instructions for illumination content or colors, as well as binding instructions were often indicated through the use of metal point or hard point notations. Additionally, metal point, hard point, or graphite was used to not only layout the framework for the text, but also to layout the relationship between text and image. Preliminary planning allowed for the creation of separate design and text areas, so that text could be written first by the scribe. Following the text, any related designs or decorated initials could be sketched; once a design was finalized it could be inked and finally, colored by the illuminator.

Contributor: Keri Marken, from notes by Alan Cole

Contribution date: Winter 2014