One of twenty-one seals c. 800

This is one of twenty-one seals, carved by an anonymous hand from an unknown time, now residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Though small, it carries the weight of ancient iconography. Look closely, and you will discern figures etched into its surface. These are not mere decorations but symbols, perhaps of power, of identity, or of belief. Seals such as this were more than personal signatures; they were badges of authority and keys to the cultural narratives of their time. Consider how the act of sealing—of marking and claiming—echoes through history, from royal decrees stamped in wax to the digital signatures of our modern age. Each mark is a point of connection between past and present, reflecting our deep-seated need to leave our indelible mark. The emotional resonance of these forms lies in their persistence, reminding us that even the smallest object can carry the immense weight of human history and collective memory. These symbols endure, transformed yet recognizable, resurfacing in our collective consciousness, forever evolving, forever present.