Venetian Glass Pen - Murano Island, Venice, Italy - design c. 1750 (length: 18.5 cm)

This intricate nib, still bearing traces of ink in its grooves, forms the tip of a 20th century replica of a Venetian glass pen. Though Venetian glass-blowing dates to the 8th century, merchants only began trading in pens in the 18th century, after Asian techniques helped perfect the art form.