Lessons from an Ink “Well”

I have been pondering inkwells.  Why inkwells?  Inkwells are another image depicting my word of the year – well – and capturing my imagination and memory.

A former pastor of ours always used fountain pens. He loved the feel of the pen as he wrote letters. Did you use them in school as a child? Yep, I am that old. I remember school desk with hole for ink carved in the upper left top corner. Now we didn’t use that well; we walked to the back of the classroom to fill our pens and it was messy if I recall and I was thrilled to move to ball point pens I think in third grace… but I digress.

What is it about inkwells? Do they hold any lessons for us connected to my word of the year?

A Little History of Inkwells

Skip this section if you want. I had fun going down the rabbit hole of inkwell history. Sorry to digress again…LOL.

An inkwell is a small pot or container used for holding ink in a place convenient for a writer to dip their quill or pen into.  Can’t you just picture it? Early materials included clay, stone, or even animal horn.

The earliest forms of inkwells date back to ancient Egypt. Back then, wealthy men would not write their own letters, they hired writers called scribes to write for them. These scribes would use stones with round holes that held the ink.

Over time, these evolved into larger pieces of stone or clay, becoming more elaborate as time went on. By the 1^st century AD, scribes across the Roman Empire would use small, unadorned inkwells usually made of metal or pottery.

Writing continued to be considered a humble task, exclusively suited for scribes, throughout the Middle Ages. However, during the Renaissance, more affluent classes began to undertake writing themselves. As male nobility and the wealthy alone were educated, writing became a source of pride and a symbol of status.

In tandem, inkwells became more elaborate, with decorative qualities and rich designs. Ornate inkwells were a symbol reflecting high education and social status.

During the American Civil war (1861-65), the necessity of a portable inkwell became essential. This was for the benefit of soldiers, to enable them to send letters from the battlefield.

As such, the portable inkwell was developed. The wells would be housed in a box, known as compendium, which could also hold other writing materials, such as quills, paste papers (used to seal letters), and a sander (to hold a fine sand, sprinkled to prevent ink smearing).

While ballpoint pens have largely replaced fountain pens now, inkwells are used as gifts and symbols. Inkwells are still used by calligraphers and those who appreciate the art and style of handwritten letters.

King Charles used ink from an inkwell given to him by his sons when he signed the declaration which officially made him the new British Monarch. The Supreme Court is another example of how inkwells can make for timeless gifts. To this day, the Court gifts pewter inkwells to newly elected Presidents, visiting heads of state, and other special recipients.

Lessons from the Inkwell

Thinking about inkwells offer an invitation to ponder my word of the year in a new way.

• What am I storing in the container of my heart? My soul? Right now, what is in my well?
• How can I/should I use the ink of my life to express my longings? To help others? To live well?
• Am I holding a gift that can be given to someone else and is now the time?
• Is it time to dip that ink quill deeper and what does that mean?

As I ponder each of these questions the last one shimmers the most for me and is the one I bring to prayer. I sense God inviting me to write a new type of work and attempt a new style of craft this year. Not sure at all how or where or when but I will take hold of my quill and dip it into the inkwell of God’s grace and love and see what appears.

What does the image of an inkwell bring for you?