English to Italian Art/Literary History penne d'oca e calami

For a pen, the medieval scribe normally used a quill rather than the
reed that had been in use at the end of the Roman period.* Goose quills
were the most popular: they are just the right size to fit easily in the hand,
but the truth is that any feather can be used – crow quills were employed
for tiny writing and swan for larger letters. The width of the BARREL or
shaft of the feather (called the butt in the feather trade) determines how
wide the nib can be. Feathers can be used without further preparation,
but over time methods were devised for hardening the barrel to produce
a more durable and long-lasting nib. This involved heating the butts in
hot ash, or by friction (rubbing against a coarse cloth) or in hot sand.
This also slightly degreases the butt and assists in separating the barrel’s
waxy membrane from the main substance of the quill underneath. This
helps the ink stay on the nib and also enables the quill cutter to make a
clean nib slit which eases the flow of the ink down to the tip and gives
the nib a pleasing flexibility. Traditionally it was the five outer feathers
of the wing (the flight feathers) of the goose and swan that were used,
with those from the left wing being favoured over the right as they curve
more naturally into the fingers and knuckles of a right-handed scribe.