A portable pen case, or divit, has an inkwell on the exterior, at one end of the tubular arm that holds the pens. It was used mainly by Governors and Ottoman administrators for writing firmans. Quills were originally kept in the penholder and the little hinged box served as an inkwell. Both were made of either brass or silver, sometimes with gold appliques and were decorated with calligraphy or vegetal designs.
Mostly placed in the owner’s belt, it served him during travelling around the country. Divits belonging to the Sultan would carry his turhga, inscribed at one end or in the middle of the penholder. A divit can be viewed in the Centre of Visual Arts and Research on the ground floor.
The ‘Did You Know’ series is made possible with the support of OPAP (Cyprus) and Active Citizens Fund.
