(04-03-2016, 10:29 AM)Diane wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Sam, candle-wax tends to be either of tallow or of beeswax, and sealing wax simply has hardeners added to it. I'm not sure that sealing wax can be dated before the modern era, but it's a very interesting question. If you like, I'll look into it.
I'm going by memory, so I would have to check to make sure I remember correctly, but I'm pretty sure wax seal artifacts go back as far as Mesopotamia.
I don't have time to check on it right now, but the Mesopotamians had quite sophisticated seals that they used on ceramic objects, so there's a chance they may have impressed them into wax, as well (but I don't know for certain).