The harder varieties of the _amatista_ or _haematite_ were used to burnish the gold leaf in manuscripts, small pieces being polished and fixed in a convenient handle. They were also used as a red pigment, the stone being calcined, quenched in water and finely ground; see Cennino Cennini, § 42. Besides the hard red chalky stone (_amatita rossa_) used for outlines by the illuminators, a somewhat similar black stone (_amatita nera_) was also used, but not so commonly as the red. _Reed pens._ _The pens of illuminators._ In early times, throughout, that is, the whole classical period and probably till about the time of Justinian, the sixth century A.D., scribes' pens were mostly made of reeds (_calamus_ or _canna_); and occasionally silver or bronze pens were used; see above, page 29. But certainly as early as the eighth century A.D. and probably before that, quill-pens came into use and superseded the blunter and softer reed-pen. _Fine quills._ Such exquisitely fine lines as those in many classes of mediaeval manuscripts could only have been made with some very fine and delicate instrument like a skilfully cut crow's quill or other moderately small feather. The pen was a very important instrument for the illuminator, not only when his pictures were mainly executed in pen outline, like many of those in the later Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, but also in such microscopically delicate miniature work as that in the Anglo-Norman _historiated Bibles_ of the thirteenth century; in these much of the most important drawing, such as the features and the hair of the figures, was executed, not with a brush, but with a quill-pen, which in the illuminator's skilful hand could produce a quality of line which for delicacy and crisp precision of touch has never been surpassed by the artists of any other class or age. _Brushes._ _Brushes_ were, as a rule, made by the illuminators themselves, so as to suit their special needs and system of working. Cennino (§§ 63 to 66) and other writers give directions for the selection of the best hair and the mode of fixing it so as to give a finely pointed brush. Ermine, minever and other animals of that tribe supplied the best hair for the brushes required for very minute work. But a great number of other animals provided useful material to the craftsman who knew the right places to select the hair from, and, a still more important thing, understood how to arrange and fix it in a bundle of the best form. _List of tools._ _The implements of scribes and illuminators._ The following is a list of the principal tools and materials required by the illuminator of manuscripts, including those which have been already described[284]. Pens, pencils and chalk of various sorts, as described above. Brushes made of minever, badger and other kinds of hair. Grinding-slabs and rubbers of porphyry or other hard stone, and a bronze mortar. Sharp penknife and palette knife. Rulers, and a metal ruling-pen.