Sealing the Document: Applying the Seal

A guide to folding a sheet of mock leather over a medieval parchment document and to sealing the envelope with a wax seal. Part of Mead Bowen's "Medieval Paper and Its Place in History."

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• wax-seal
• parchment
• how-to
• mead-bowen
• medieval
• craft

[GloatingCrab]

i tried the exact same way but all of the wax ended up struck in my seal and i dont think that i will be able to salvage it. is there any way to get the wax out?

[edwardmbowen]

@GloatingCrab If your seal is metal, put just enough hot (really hot!) water into a mug or other heat-resistant container to cover the area where the wax is stuck. Place the seal in the water for a few minutes. The water should help to loosen and melt away the wax. Be careful when pulling the seal out, as metal heats up quickly and the handle may be hot.

[816914]

When do you think you will make another vid? Luv your vids

[edwardmbowen]

@816914 Well, I'm overseas until October 2012, so maybe shortly after that! My lovely camerawoman isn't with me, either, so that complicates things. But I hope to have another video out eventually.

[imadethistocomment4]

I tried this with normal candle wax that was just laying around my house, and it worked the same :) oh, and for the print of the seal, i used an old necklace that had a the writen letter K, because my last name starts with that. It worked sooo perfectly.

[edwardmbowen]

@imadethistocomment4 Resourcefulness for the win! I'm glad it worked out so well for you :3

[EP005769]

chears you just helped me seal up my history homework :) thumbs up

[edwardmbowen]

@zelarian That's what I do! ;)

[Justmyopinionlol]

just see those Shakespearean sleeves make me LOL...

[mrssquarepants1000]

Thanks! I couldn't figure out how to get that nasty black coloring out of my seal. 45 degree angle it is!

[816914]

Hello its me.. Again um i saw a video about the same thin and they said to light a candle and rotate the wax over the candle and then smear it on the envelope and it worked great my guestion is why didnt you show this tecniqe

[GloatingCrab]

@edwardmbowen Thanks for the information! i tried that and also used a knife point for the finest filigree, which worked. thanks for the tutorial, very informative!

[816914]

Okay thx

[imadethistocomment4]

@edwardmbowen Thanks ! Im just glad you posted this :)