Cat Pen Wipe

This pen wipe features a metal cat sitting on layers of cut felt. The felt was used to wipe off excess ink from the dip pen.

Pen wipes were important for writing with ink during the 19^th century. Used to clean ink from the nib of a pen, quill, or dip pens with metal nibs, pen wipes helped keep pen tips clean and free from clogs created by a buildup of dried ink, ensuring smooth, error-free writing.

Pen wipes came in a wide array of shapes and sizes, from simple cloth disks to more elaborate versions of wood or metal, sometimes fashioned into figural shapes featuring bristles for cleaning pen tips. Dark colors, especially black, were commonly used as they hid the ink marks better. Common fabric-based pen wipe designs were based on tree leaves, embroidered circles, butterflies, and other novelty shapes.