1 May 2017
Talking Seals
A Great MacGuffin
Someone recently sent information about a small Chinese seal made from carnelian “found lying on open ground in the bush in Dar es Salaam (East Africa) in 1948 and may well have been lying there for many years.”
15 August 2016
Side Inscriptions
Seal artists often write on the sides of their seals (in Chinese called 邊款 biankuan).
15 February 2016
Where Does It Start?
Chinese is traditionally written from top to bottom in columns that are read from right to left, in other words beginning in the top right corner and continuing to the bottom left corner.
15 January 2016
Is It Soapstone?
“What stone is it?” is one of the most often asked question about Chinese seals.
15 October 2015
1 September 2015
Looking at Seals: Sadness
A seal from two thousand years ago certainly tells a story, we just don’t know what it is.
1 May 2015
Seal Phrases: Of One Heart
The Chinese phrase tongxin (同心) literally means “same heart,” with the implication of “to be of one heart.”
1 January 2014
Looking at Seals: Sunlight
You’ll have to use your imagination to decide why the word “sunlight” (日光 riguang) was chosen for a seal from the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD).
1 September 2013
Seal Phrase: Great Good Fortune
The phrase “Great Good Fortune” (大幸 daxing) is another example of Chinese seals with thoughts that represent wishes.
1 July 2013
Seal Phrase: Daily Profit
The phrase “Daily Profit” (日利 rili) was commonly found on Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) seals.
15 May 2013
3 May 2013