Asian Geographic - April 2018

(singke) #1
far lEft Ar tists and
scholars who liked
a particular artwork
would stamp their
seal on it, alongside
appreciative reviews

lEft Seal car ving in
the modern day

With 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 © SHUTTERSTOCK

It’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. ag

Artisans use different techniques to carve different


materials, all selected for their durability


Seal Materials


Wood
Sandalwood

Bone
Ivory, Horn

Marble
White marble

Jade
Nephrite

Metal
Gold, Bronze

Stone
Agate, Soapstone
Free download pdf