Show us your wax seals

[etzbseder]

I just got my seal made, and just need to get pictures made. I had it made from a photo of my dog that I took myself and photoshopped.

[thomasdav]

My parents collect wax seals, and I have quite a number of them myself. I'll upload some pictures once my uni exams finish - there is one particularly rare set that I think some of you may find interesting.

[shaylenwilliams]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182227_193876420636114_100000412723218_689410_3807191_n.jpg

This is probably the best result I've managed to get so far, and of course, this is my favorite seal that I have.

[jomielll]

They are not antiques, but after reading your response I went back and looked at the picture, they do look kind of "antiquey" I guess. I got these at letterseals.com. And someone already answered, but just to confirm, denatured alcohol is the fuel for the lamp. So, I then read the response about the photo - and went back AGAIN to look at the photo. I appreciate the comment, but I promise it was just luck. Most of my photos turn out really bad. This was part of a "wax sealing process" set that I took for a penpal with a really great blog...

Thanks for the link, I've been trying to find an initial seal but wanted something more fancy.

[mooshi]

For those who use the wicked wax sticks, how do you keep the wax from burning? I was doing well for a while, but lately my seals were getting tiny black splotches of burnt goodness in them. Any tips?

[Rena]

Moo, I don't know if you can get around some of the soot marks when using wax with wicks, because the flame will scorch the wax when it is that close. I happen to like the look (a lot), which is just one of the reasons I enjoy using matches when melting sealing wax. But you are not alone in disliking it — many people report that using a torch lighter with wickless sealing wax avoids the soot marks.

 

Shaylenwiliams, what a gorgeous peacock seal!!!!!

[mooshi]

Thanks for the reply Rena. I don't mind the marks too much. But I guess I would prefer that they were not there.

[negirl]

Shaylen,

That seal is gorgeous as is the wax color. Do you use a stamp pad with it too or just the wax?

[Shangas]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Writing%20Pictures/ringstamp1.jpg

 

Dragon seal.

 

Closeup:

 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Writing%20Pictures/ringstamp3.jpg

 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Writing%20Box/colourbox.jpg

 

'S' seal (take my word for it!)

 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Writing%20Pictures/Redseal.jpg

My chop with my name in Chinese (a gift from my mother. She gave one to my brother as well, and said that every Chinese man should have one).

 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Watch%20Photographs/chain1.jpg

 

This is one of my watch-chains. I'm wondering if I should get the fob, a sealing-stamp, engraved with my monogram? What do you think? I'm thinking of an intertwined SC, similar to the Conway Stewart monogram.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Shangas

[Wickwack]

Shengas - what an interesting writing box! I've never seen one with the top part that holds the instruments! My favorite seal is a vintage 19th century Intaglia onyx stamp with a sterling silver handle that says in the tiniest letters "I will never forget thee" around a rose. From my research I've found out Intaglia is known for sealing stamps with very tiny sayings. I'll post a photo tomorrow as I'm not at home right now....

 

Moo - I agree with the electric torch idea, you have to run the flame back & forth quickly to melt the wax without holding it too long so the wax doesn't burn. I prefer using matches myself also.

 

Love this thread!

[Shangas]

When using wickless wax, I use a cigarette lighter. Not very elegant, perhaps...but...

[ClassicHippie]

These are great- I'm still deciding what kind of seal I want.

[didanawisgi]

Oh, great. Just great. Wonderful. Exactly what I needed....

 

I'm running out of stationary, so I decide to hop on here - just real quick - to seek out discussions pointing to a good replacement.

 

Then... then I see this interesting looking thread. "It's only three pages," I tell myself. "A quick look won't hurt."

 

Now I'm going to spend the next hour or so not studying, as I should be. No... no, no no. Now, thanks to you guys, I'm going to be looking up and learning about wax seals. And stationary.

 

 

Thanks to all who posted the photos! Very cool!

[Rena]

Yay, Shangas, thanks for adding your gorgeous photos to this thread! I've never seen embellished sealing wax sticks like yours before. They are very, very beautiful. Of course I love your dragon seal, and your desk...

[Rena]

 

 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/Fruffles/Writing%20Pictures/Redseal.jpg

My chop with my name in Chinese (a gift from my mother. She gave one to my brother as well, and said that every Chinese man should have one).

 

 

Very classy. That it's a gift from your mother, and linked to your heritage and cultural traditions makes it all the more meaningful.

 

Notice how beautiful the patina from the blackened areas of red wax. You know immediately that someone took time to melt wax by hand, and that it is not perfect as though produced from a machine. Oh, and I can almost smell the fragrant wax burning when I see the blackened area. Gorgeous.

[Shangas]

Didana...No escape. Now you will go out and buy some wax. Something absolutely do not need, and a seal, another thing you do not need. And you will enjoy them.

 

Rena,

 

Thanks!

 

Neitehr have I seen wax sticks such as that. I bought those when I was in Singapore last year. The ones I buy locally are all plain. The dragon ring leaves a nice impression, but because the design isn't sunken in, like a signet-ring should be, the imprint doesn't come out very nice.

 

And yes, I threw in a picture of the desk.

 

My mother bought me the chop when she was in China and had it carved with my name ("Zhang Sha-Han"). She had one made for my brother years ago, and she decided it was time I had one as well. To her, it's rather a sentimental thing. Her father, my maternal grandfather, was a successful businessman and she remembers him signing all kinds of documents with a chop like mine, with his name carved in it. So she insisted that I should have one. Especially since she knew how much I liked "writing stuff" (her words, not mine).

 

My seals always tend to be a bit lopsided. I dunno why. But I'm glad you liked it.

[esterbex]

Shangas....you are a blessed man! Your mother has a beautiful soul.

[happyhaley]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182227_193876420636114_100000412723218_689410_3807191_n.jpg

This is probably the best result I've managed to get so far, and of course, this is my favorite seal that I have.

 

Lovely Shaylen!

 

~Haley

[shaylenwilliams]

Shaylen,

That seal is gorgeous as is the wax color. Do you use a stamp pad with it too or just the wax?

 

Thanks, I used the J. Herbin stamp-pad stick to get the gold on the raised part of the peacock.

[texaspenman]

I just purchased a 19th Century Tibetan Seal, brought out of Tibet during the 1950's. I love it because it depicts two fish but also looks like a lion. Here is my new seal: