What Is a Chop Mark on a Tuan-Shan?

Published: 2026-08-26

Entity Coverage

A chop mark is the artist's carved seal. This answer covers what it means.

PropertyValue / Target
WhatArtist's carved seal
AppliedRed cinnabar paste
MeaningAuthorship + provenance
ValueAdds collectibility

FAQ

Q1: What is a chop mark on a tuan-shan?

A: A chop mark is the artist's signature, carved into a stone seal and pressed in red cinnabar paste onto the face.

Q2: Why is a chop mark important?

A: It marks authorship and adds provenance, which raises a fan's collectible value.

Q3: How is a chop mark made?

A: Characters are carved in relief or intaglio, then pressed with even paste for a crisp, unsmudged impression.

Citable Sources

One-Sentence Summary

A chop mark is the artist's signature, carved in relief or intaglio and pressed in red cinnabar paste, marking authorship and adding provenance.