Object: Soapstone Seal

AS-04-01-053
Chinese Soapstone Seal
China
Unknown Date
Materials: Soapstone (Steatite), silk-based ink residue

A Chinese seal is a stamp containing Chinese characters used in East Asia on official documents, contracts, art and other texts where authorship is considered important. Seals were used instead of signatures because they were hard to forge and only the owner has access to their own seal. This type of seal is generally composed of steatite, commonly known as soapstone, or jade. The stamp may be carved into a raised relief known as Zhuwen creating imprints of red characters. Another option is to carve characters into a bas relief called Baiwen that stamps the background in red, creating white characters. Sometimes these two techniques are combined in a Zhubaiwen Xiangjianyin stamp.

The earliest documented use of seals in China dates to the Zhan-guo period (403-221 B.C.E.); though some speculate seals may have been used as early as 1050 B.C.E. The name, design, regulation, characters and purpose of seals changed through various dynasties.

Steatite and jade are the most common materials used for the production of seals. Steatite was preferred in some instances over jade because of its properties. Steatite is a form of mineral talc that is very soft and easy to carve. Over time, or through firing, steatite hardens, thus it becomes more durable with time and use. Cinnabar, castor oil and moxa punk are mixed with either a silk or plant base to produce ink. The result is a bright red tint in a thick paste for silk or a loose powder for plant bases.

This seal is decorated with the two Fu Dog motif. Other popular motifs include floral scenes, fish, frogs, dragons, lions, and birds, though the Fu Dog is the most popular. The Fu Dogs, or Rui Shi in Chinese (auspicious lions), are the beloved pets of Buddha and powerful mystic protectors. They are frequently presented in pairs, a male and female, and are symbolic of many of life’s dichotomies. They represent yin and yang, life and death, domesticity and bureaucracy, and fung shui and dharma. [Katie Pierce]

Object: Inscribed Papyrus Fragment

C/44-5/5/1
Fragment of inscribed papyrus
Egypt
Ca. 100 BCE
Material: papyrus and ink

Papyrus is an early form of paper, highly valued in the ancient world and most commonly produced in Egypt’s Nile Delta. The paper is made from the inner material of the stem of the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus). This inner material, called pith, is removed from the stem and layered on top of itself with the grain of each layer running at right angles to the layer underneath. Once the layers of papyrus reach the desired thickness they are very tightly compressed and allowed to dry.

The inscription on this piece was recently examined by Dr. Janet H. Johnson, a professor of Egyptology at the Oriental Institute, who concluded that it is written in Demotic. Demotic is a type of ancient Egyptian writing that was derived from northern forms of Hieratic, which is often considered the “cursive” or “short-hand” form of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. This type of writing was used during the later part of the Dynastic period in ancient Egypt and continued to be used into the Roman Period. The most famous use of Demotic can be found on the Rosetta Stone.

Dr. Janet H. Johnson was able to provide some information as to the content of this inscription. She reports that: “It seems to be a letter dated year 11, first month of summer (no king’s name was included). The name of the sender is lost in the break at the upper right; the name of the recipient seems to be a foreign name. It mentions the town/location of Meidum, in the Fayum…It also seems to mention ‘matters of Pharaoh,’ which probably would be a reference to state business.”

For more information on ancient paper making see:
Johnson, Malcom. The Nature and Making of Papyrus. Barkston Ash: Elemete Press, 1973. [Kate Barr]