Chinese Chops

Chinese Chops or Chinese stamps started in ancient China, during the Qin Dynasty (221-210 B.C). The Chinese stamp carving was originally used as an imperial stamp- a stamp used by the emperor to, in effect, put his stamp of approval on documents. These Chinese stamp carvings were used by only royalty.

After this dynasty, another type of stamp developed. This Chinese stamp carvings were used only for non-official use by private individuals as a personalized stamp. During this period Chinese signature stamps became reffed to as Boa. During the Ching Dynasty educated people put stamp-prints on their finished works of painting, writing and poetry.

Today in China, chops are still used instead of using signatures in business. Many business people use specially designed stamps as their Chinese name stamp, to indicate their reliability as business people and to confirm their identity. Personal identification with signatures because they are difficult to forge and only the owner has access to his own seal.

Chinese artists adapted the carved seal to use the seal to make their art. These artists created unique seals that became identified as their signature stamp. Every time they stamp their work with the seal, they are putting their signatures to their work. There is a great deal of pride in finding a seal that is a unique and artistic expression of their work. Owners or collectors of paintings or books will often add their own studio stamps to pieces they have collected. Provided that it is tastefully done (for example, not obscuring the body of the painting), this practice does not devalue the painting.

Despite its small size, the chop plays an extremely important role in the life of a Chinese. Name chops are engraved by hand. Through the technique of carving, name chops combine the beauty of written Chinese characters and line drawing. A name chop produces virtually the same image of the same characters or figures no matter how many times it is used.

Chops, which were a forerunner to the invention of printing, are engraved by hand, pressed into a red ink paste made from Cinnabar and stamped onto a painting or document. Chops are generally made of jade into which and elaborate sculpture is often carved. They can also be made from ivory, or soft precious stones. The body of the chop can be of different sizes and shapes. The 'head' may be sculpted into shapes of animals like fish, goat, lion, dragon, or any other symbolic image.

Beside for use on traditional paintings and calligraphy, name seals are nowadays also used as a personal identification in money transaction and other business matters.