How do we document seals? And seal impressions?
But, Genius, ok, I start to form an idea on these objects and their significance. But I am a bit confused...
Confused Fritz?
Yes... When you speak about them and you are showing me examples, sometimes you are showing me the objects, in other cases relief images and other times drawings. Why do you do this?
Ah, ok... Reasonable question...
Pheewww...
Yes, yes... Well, a seal has, as you know by now, motifs engraved in negative, thus sunk below the level of the seal face. This means that their plasticity and the details in their interior are most often not clearly visible in the original. Moreover, motifs engraved in variegated seal faces are often 'disguised' by the patterns of the colours on the surface of the seal. In order to view the motifs clearly we make modern impressions or casts of the seal faces, as these offer us a positive image that reveals the motif in all its detail and plasticity!
Aha... So do I understand correctly that when you are showing me images with relief motifs, these are always modern impressions of the ancient seal face made with the aim of 'reading' the motif clearly?
Well, be careful... Not always... There are also ancient seal impressions on sealings, have you forgotten that? There we already have the image in positive, as ancient people used their seals to stamp on clay, which we have now found! So when I am referring to an ancient seal and I am showing you a relief image of the motif on its seal face this is the modern impression. But, when I am referring to ancient seal impressions and I am showing you a motif in relief, this is the image of the actual ancient object!
Ok... And can I ask you? What materials do you use for the modern impressions? Can't you damage the objects by taking impressions?
Well, you must be careful when you are making the impressions. If you are careful and you have experience, you know how to handle each piece in a manner that will both provide you with a good impression and leave the object undamaged. Depending on the piece you want to document you may use plasticine, silicone or even plaster for the impression/cast.
Ok, I understand it is better to leave this to the experts...
Yeap...
But one last thing... What about the drawings? Sometimes instead of the seal faces or their impressions you are showing me drawings... Why?
Look, the drawing aims at providing the viewer with quick access to the motif, as for untrained eyes it is not always easy to 'read' a motif, even if you are seeing it in relief.
© Maria Anastasiadou, Nikos Podias, Creator: Nikos Podias
Ok, but are these drawings accurate? They seem wrong, as the motifs on them are the mirror image of that on the seal face...
Look, these are archaeological drawings, so yes you can trust them. They have been made with as much objectivity as possible. Of course a drawing always contains some kind of interpretation from the person that is responsible for it, but on the other hand, drawings help you understand the motif better. And, not they are not wrong... They are made from the impression, not the seal, because, as I explained above, in the relief of the impression you can 'read' the details and the plasticity of the motif better! So, as in the impressions, in the drawings you have a mirror image of the motif on the seal face!
Got it! I am off now...
But, before you go Fritz one more important thing. I explained to you how we document the faces of the seal that have engraved motifs. But do not forget that our seals (and sealings) are three-dimensional objects, so when we document them we always also provide a side view of the artifact! This way we can really get an idea of the appearance of the object!
Ooook, oook...