The origins of brand started with seals rolled onto clay as a form of signature. I was curious about how exactly they were used, so I did some additional research. 

Uses of the Cylinder Seal

I found that cylinder seals actually have more than one use. Yes, authenticating documents and ensuring professional affiliation is the main practical use, but they were also used on clay that secured doors and sealed containers to discourage theft. What surprised me the most though, was it’s spiritual use. Certain seals could be worn as jewelry or attached to clothing to ward off evil spirits.

Design & Communication

This amulet is engraved with the demon Panzuzu, which was known to protect pregnant women and their babies. https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500×600/3125.jpg.webp?v=1618613120

In my research I found just how the creation and use of these seals resemble design today. Many seals had to communication information while having a visually pleasing design, often incorporating both writing and illustration – essentially what design is today. The information that the seal needed to communicate would often be the job or lifestyle of the owner, but could also include more personal information like their name. 

In this example, the design of the seal includes the name of the owner of the seal, a hunter, trees, and ibex on mountains. https://collectionapi.metmuseum.org/api/collection/v1/iiif/329090/711777/main-image

Missing or Stolen Seals

Seals which included more personal information meant that losing this seal could make the owner a victim of identity theft. As seals were often used to identify yourself on documents, someone nefarious who had your seal could stir up a lot of trouble. The date and time of a seal’s disappearance would be documented to invalidate any use of the seal after it went missing, not unlike calling a bank to cancel a credit card after losing it.

A demonstration of how seals were pressed onto wet clay by Sidney Babcock. https://www.aramcoworld.com/getmedia/5739fc20-e10b-4b49-9555-6e2eecbe19ec/seal-spread-demo-sequence.jpg?width=1600&height=229&ext=.jpg

As shown in the image, seals were made to be very small. Although there was a wide range of how detailed a seal could be, the small size really shows just how intricately the artists worked. Despite the difficult work, everyone from royals to slaves owned seals, so seal makers most likely lived very comfortable lives.

In Conclusion

It really fascinates me how these seals represent how design is used today. Although rarely rolled onto wet clay, designs are often made for people and brands and have the purpose of communicating identity, much like the seals of ancient Mesopotamia. I am excited to learn how visual communication changes and evolves into the modern era and throughout the centuries.

References

Cylinder seal and modern impression: hunting scene. (n.d.). Metmuseum.org. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/327226

Lawrence, L. (2021). Mesopotamia’s Art of the Seal – AramcoWorld. Www.aramcoworld.com. https://www.aramcoworld.com/Articles/July-2021/Mesopotamia-s-Art-of-the-Seal

Mark, J. J. (2015, December 2). Cylinder Seals in Ancient Mesopotamia – Their History and Significance. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/846/cylinder-seals-in-ancient-mesopotamia—their-hist/#citation_info

Rakic, Y. (2018). Cylinder Seals: Tiny Treasures That Leave a Big Impression. Metmuseum.org. https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/metkids/2018/cylinder-seals-tiny-treasures-that-leave-a-big-impression

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