This antique Dutch stylus pen is made of banded agate, gilded metal and ebony. It has the impressed mark JNO Holland 7 and comes in its original, holly decorated Christmas box. The inside base of the box is covered in pale blue velvet which has the owners initials , RR, marked on it. The box isn't in perfect condition but is a rarity. The stylus pen is in excellent original condition.
A stylus is a writing utensil or small tool used for marking or shaping. It is a narrow, elongated staff or pointed instrument which was used in ancient times for writing or marking on parchment paper or papyrus.
It's very likely that this stylus was imported into England and used by an English schoolboy to write on wooden tablets coated with wax to produce whitish marks that could be rubbed off with the round end.
Rare, exquisite example.
Size:
Stylus: 5 7/8" long