Seal

Used as a stamp to imprint characters on documents, paintings, etc., using a red ink made from a sticky vegetable dye. The use of seals originated in China. The seal is used in place of a personal signature.

Seal made of a single piece of bronze, shaped like rectangular cube, with handle shaped like a clump of fungus. Hole through stems, through which is passed a cord of braided orange silk, knotted. Under base is a single character in seal style, raised; the remaining half of the seal left blank. Remains of red ink on seal. Bronze has dark brown patina.