In ancient times, seals were carved from metals and precious metals such as copper, gold, silver and iron.
除了石印，印章材質尚有銅、金、銀、鐵、玉、瑪瑙、翡翠、琥珀、珊瑚、象牙、牛角、紫檀木、竹根、瓷、瓦，甚至還包括瓜蒂和果核……，可謂琳琅滿目、美不勝收。本期就石印之外的印材略作介紹。古代印章以銅印最為普遍，這是受了銅器文化的影響。