Traditional Handicrafts: Seal Carving

Chinese paintings, calligraphy pieces and the majority of artwork in China all carry the artist’s seal, rather than the artist’s signature. This seal is often in red ink or cinnabar paste on the side of the artwork. Stamps can also be used in lieu of a signature on contracts or other important documents.

These stamps are all hand-carved, usually in stone, with the name of the person or the name of their studio. Stamps, also called chops can be found in many markets that sell art supplies or even souvenirs. Stamps are usually carved out by professional seal-carvers, or by the stamp users themselves. More expensive seals often have carvings at the top or on the stamp handle.

Come join our seal carving class and learn how to hand-carve a seal of your own!

Time: Tuesday July 12th, 2011 – 7.30pm