far lEft Ar tists and
scholars who liked
a particular artwork
would stamp their
seal on it, alongside
appreciative reviewslEft Seal car ving in
the modern dayWith such tiny details, artisans need steady
hands and immense patience, for one wrong
move could mean starting over.
A glimpse at the history of seals and seal
engraving reveals just how little the practice has
changed since its inception. Like their ancient
counterparts, both professional and amateur
seal carvers today employ largely the same
steps in the process. First, a design is sketched
on paper and transferred to a block of stone or
other material. With special knives, they engrave
the design into the stone, sanding it down.
PHOTO © SHUTTERSTOCKIt’s then tested with commercial purple ink
before being properly stamped and packed
with a packet of red cinnabar paste.
Initially, only powerful figures in society
bought and used seals, but the practice grew
widespread for its utility in validating business,
artistic and religious documents.
Though seals are less popular today, some
businessmen still use them to authenticate
the origin of commercial documents and
correspondence – often alongside handwritten
signatures for extra security. agArtisans use different techniques to carve different
materials, all selected for their durability
Seal Materials
Wood
SandalwoodBone
Ivory, HornMarble
White marbleJade
NephriteMetal
Gold, BronzeStone
Agate, Soapstone