<p>As the other answer stated, the characters are <strong>李濟懋印</strong>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/W5yB5.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/W5yB5.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><em>Approximate idea of character development - this may not be strictly how the characters evolved over the years.</em></p>

<hr>

<h2>李</h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>「李」(originally <em>a kind of fruit</em> > <em>plum</em>, Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rəʔ/) is comprised of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>「木」, a semantic component, reinterpreted from「來」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*mə.rˤək/, /*mə.rˤək/), a phonetic component;</p></li>
  <li><p>「子」, a semantic component.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>「木」is relatively similar in appearance to its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script" rel="noreferrer">regular script</a> counterpart.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>「子」originally depicted a <em>baby</em> or <em>child</em>, which is its original meaning.</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="noreferrer">甲</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/g4GIp.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/g4GIp.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">甲</a>2262<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=22484&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集22484</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p><strong>This form directly leads on to its seal script shape.</strong> Compared with an adult human「大」, the child's head is emphasised and legs are de-emphasised.</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OOuya.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OOuya.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">甲</a>387<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=22421&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集22421</a></kbd></H1></p>
</blockquote>

<h2>濟</h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>「濟」(originally <em>to cross a river</em>) is comprised of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>「氵/水」, a semantic component, explanation given <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/30476/meaning-of-seal-and-engraved-characters-on-teapot/30488#30488">here</a>;</p></li>
  <li><p>「齊」, a phonetic component.</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>What「齊」exactly depicted is not universally agreed upon. However, most sources agree that it was originally comprised of three of some kind of plant:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QviEn.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QviEn.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">前</a>2.15.3<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=36493&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集36493</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>The primary attested meanings are <em>even, alike, level</em>.</p>
  
  <p>Later on, decorative marks in the shape of「＝」were added on:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period" rel="noreferrer">戰國</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="noreferrer">金</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/I1WJo.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/I1WJo.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>陳侯因⿱次月敦<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=4649&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成4649</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>The bottom two plants then had their stalks extended, <strong>leading on to the seal script shape</strong>:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="noreferrer">秦</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script" rel="noreferrer">篆</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/A8aQf.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/A8aQf.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>咸陽瓦<br>　</kbd></H1></p>
</blockquote>

<h2>懋</h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>「懋」(<em>diligent</em>, <em>hard-working</em>; used as a name) is comprised of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「楙」, a phonetic component;</li>
  <li>「心」, a semantic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>「楙」(<em>quince</em>; sometimes interchanged with「茂」<em>flourishing</em>) is comprised of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「林」, a semantic component;</li>
  <li>「矛」, a phonetic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>An ancient variant of「懋」did not include「林」:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0StiU.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0StiU.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">京都</a>2062<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=29004&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集29004</a></kbd><kbd><br>隷定<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X8BgI.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X8BgI.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>The top component is often seen as the oldest form of「矛」. Later individual appearances of「矛」clearly depicts a long spear or pike with a curved handle:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="noreferrer">西周</a><br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/iOuJz.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/iOuJz.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>⿹戈冬簋<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=4322&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成4322</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>The head of the weapon and the handle was subject to shape corruption, e.g. into three「刀」:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_(state)" rel="noreferrer">楚</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips" rel="noreferrer">簡</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/z6ZZk.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/z6ZZk.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="noreferrer">秦家嘴</a>1.5<br>　</kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>Further stylising from similar shapes leads to</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Se77Y.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Se77Y.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts" rel="noreferrer">睡</a>ㆍ<a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="noreferrer">法</a>85<br>　</kbd><kbd><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wytZ2.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wytZ2.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="noreferrer">說文解字</a><br>　</kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>the <strong>latter of which is the seal script form found in the photo</strong>.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>「心」depicts a heart:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/H1lfh.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/H1lfh.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">甲</a>3510<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=6&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集6</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>Later on, the chambers of the heart were exaggerated, and the shape became more stylised:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>西周<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qHnlc.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qHnlc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>史墻盤<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=10175&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成10175</a></kbd><kbd>楚<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/nFbEM.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/nFbEM.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="noreferrer">包2</a>.218<br>　</kbd><kbd><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Vk9d3.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Vk9d3.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="noreferrer">說文解字</a><br>　</kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>Unfortunately, the shape for「心」in the photo is exceedingly uncommon and difficult to recognise. All common forms of「心」have curves which open at the top, not closed like in the photo. This situation happens very frequently in deciphering characters in seals and calligraphy pieces, and at this point other methods will have to be used to determine the entire character. Two possible methods are:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Use a handwriting recognition tool to write the known components (well) and an approximation of the unknown component, e.g. in Pleco:
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/KxhpI.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/KxhpI.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
  <li><p>Use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideographic_Description_Characters_(Unicode_block)" rel="noreferrer">Ideographic Description Characters</a> or similar decomposition methods in a search engine:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LBfpI.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LBfpI.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The most viable candidates are「壄」(variant of「野」) and「懋」. <a href="https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=%E6%9D%8E%E6%BF%9F%E6%87%8B&amp;oq=%E6%9D%8E%E6%BF%9F%E6%87%8B&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" rel="noreferrer">Google search</a> also reveals that "李濟懋" is an actual name, unlike "李濟壄", which should increase confidence that the character is「懋」.</p>
  
  <p>If the above process is not satisfactory, we can go further and look for variants of similar shapes in a comprehensive site like <a href="http://dict.variants.moe.edu.tw/variants/rbt/home.do" rel="noreferrer">教育部異體字字典</a>.</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>印</h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>「印」depicts a hand「」pressing down on a kneeling person「卩」, which is also its composition.</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OHA9K.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OHA9K.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">乙</a>112<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=22148&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集22148</a></kbd></H1></p>
  
  <p>The relative proportions and positions of the hand and person have changed throughout history. <strong>A bronze script form which looks similar to the photo is</strong>:</p>
  
  <p><H1><kbd>西周<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UcEK4.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UcEK4.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>毛公鼎
  <br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=2842&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成2841</a></kbd></H1></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-22T19:44:37.660Z
2018-08-22T19:44:37.660Z
dROOOze
<p>Just to venture a guess. I think these characters (<em>mirror them</em> before you read of course) should read 李濟懋印, meaning this seal was a private one that belonged to the person known as 李濟懋 (or 李济懋 in simplified Chinese).</p>

<p>There are several points we can take note of:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>What script are these characters in:  imo most likely they are in an early form of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">seal script</a>, maybe the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bronze inscription</a>, or somewhere between. However their curvature isn't sufficiently smooth, hence distinguishing them from the standardised seal script later established in the 秦(Qin) dynasty.</p></li>
<li><p>Which order to read in: it is well known that traditional Chinese characters read from right to left and top to bottom. But in Chinese seals, it's also quite typical to read the characters counter-clockwise starting from the top right character. In this image such a counter-clockwise order is confirmed by the placement of the two characters 李(top right) and 印(bottom right), because 李 as a surname must be the start and 印 meaning "seal" must be the end. </p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-12T19:08:30.843Z
2018-08-12T19:08:30.843Z
Vim
<p>What are the characters on this seal?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eg1wW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/eg1wW.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Flipped image for easier reading:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/g9hqx.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/g9hqx.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-12T18:31:15.647Z
Hmmm maybe it'd be easier if you mirror this image so that we can read the characters it would actually print?
Vim
<characters><character-identification><seal>
What are the characters on this seal? (Characters identified: 李濟懋印)
# What are the characters on this seal? (Characters identified: 李濟懋印)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-12)

What are the characters on this seal?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/eg1wW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/eg1wW.jpg)

Flipped image for easier reading:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/g9hqx.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/g9hqx.jpg)

**Tags:** characters, character-identification, seal

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hmmm maybe it'd be easier if you mirror this image so that we can read the characters it would actually print?  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-12. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Just to venture a guess. I think these characters (*mirror them* before you read of course) should read 李濟懋印, meaning this seal was a private one that belonged to the person known as 李濟懋 (or 李济懋 in simplified Chinese).

There are several points we can take note of:

* What script are these characters in: imo most likely they are in an early form of the [seal script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_script), maybe the [bronze inscription](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions), or somewhere between. However their curvature isn't sufficiently smooth, hence distinguishing them from the standardised seal script later established in the 秦(Qin) dynasty.
* Which order to read in: it is well known that traditional Chinese characters read from right to left and top to bottom. But in Chinese seals, it's also quite typical to read the characters counter-clockwise starting from the top right character. In this image such a counter-clockwise order is confirmed by the placement of the two characters 李(top right) and 印(bottom right), because 李 as a surname must be the start and 印 meaning "seal" must be the end.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-08-22. Score: 6

As the other answer stated, the characters are **李濟懋印**.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/W5yB5.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/W5yB5.png)

*Approximate idea of character development - this may not be strictly how the characters evolved over the years.*

---

## 李

> 「李」(originally *a kind of fruit* > *plum*, Baxter-Sagart OC: /\*C.rəʔ/) is comprised of
>
> * 「木」, a semantic component, reinterpreted from「來」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /\*mə.rˤək/, /\*mə.rˤək/), a phonetic component;
> * 「子」, a semantic component.
>
> 「木」is relatively similar in appearance to its [regular script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script) counterpart.
>
> ---
>
> 「子」originally depicted a *baby* or *child*, which is its original meaning.
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 甲2262 合集22484`
>
> **This form directly leads on to its seal script shape.** Compared with an adult human「大」, the child's head is emphasised and legs are de-emphasised.
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 甲387 合集22421`

## 濟

> 「濟」(originally *to cross a river*) is comprised of
>
> * 「氵/水」, a semantic component, explanation given [here](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/30476/meaning-of-seal-and-engraved-characters-on-teapot/30488#30488);
> * 「齊」, a phonetic component.
>
> ---
>
> What「齊」exactly depicted is not universally agreed upon. However, most sources agree that it was originally comprised of three of some kind of plant:
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 前2.15.3 合集36493`
>
> The primary attested meanings are *even, alike, level*.
>
> Later on, decorative marks in the shape of「＝」were added on:
>
> # `戰國 金 enter image description here 陳侯因⿱次月敦 集成4649`
>
> The bottom two plants then had their stalks extended, **leading on to the seal script shape**:
>
> # `秦 篆 enter image description here 咸陽瓦`

## 懋

> 「懋」(*diligent*, *hard-working*; used as a name) is comprised of
>
> * 「楙」, a phonetic component;
> * 「心」, a semantic component.
>
> ---
>
> 「楙」(*quince*; sometimes interchanged with「茂」*flourishing*) is comprised of
>
> * 「林」, a semantic component;
> * 「矛」, a phonetic component.
>
> An ancient variant of「懋」did not include「林」:
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 京都2062 合集29004` `隷定 enter image description here`
>
> The top component is often seen as the oldest form of「矛」. Later individual appearances of「矛」clearly depicts a long spear or pike with a curved handle:
>
> # `西周 金 enter image description here ⿹戈冬簋 集成4322`
>
> The head of the weapon and the handle was subject to shape corruption, e.g. into three「刀」:
>
> # `楚 簡 enter image description here 秦家嘴1.5`
>
> Further stylising from similar shapes leads to
>
> # `秦 簡 enter image description here 睡ㆍ法85` `篆 enter image description here 說文解字`
>
> the **latter of which is the seal script form found in the photo**.
>
> ---
>
> 「心」depicts a heart:
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 甲3510 合集6`
>
> Later on, the chambers of the heart were exaggerated, and the shape became more stylised:
>
> # `西周 金 enter image description here 史墻盤 集成10175``楚 簡 enter image description here 包2.218` `篆 enter image description here 說文解字`
>
> Unfortunately, the shape for「心」in the photo is exceedingly uncommon and difficult to recognise. All common forms of「心」have curves which open at the top, not closed like in the photo. This situation happens very frequently in deciphering characters in seals and calligraphy pieces, and at this point other methods will have to be used to determine the entire character. Two possible methods are:
>
> * Use a handwriting recognition tool to write the known components (well) and an approximation of the unknown component, e.g. in Pleco:
>   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/KxhpI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/KxhpI.png)
> * Use [Ideographic Description Characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideographic_Description_Characters_(Unicode_block)) or similar decomposition methods in a search engine:
>
>   [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LBfpI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LBfpI.png)
>
> The most viable candidates are「壄」(variant of「野」) and「懋」. [Google search](https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=%E6%9D%8E%E6%BF%9F%E6%87%8B&oq=%E6%9D%8E%E6%BF%9F%E6%87%8B&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) also reveals that "李濟懋" is an actual name, unlike "李濟壄", which should increase confidence that the character is「懋」.
>
> If the above process is not satisfactory, we can go further and look for variants of similar shapes in a comprehensive site like [教育部異體字字典](http://dict.variants.moe.edu.tw/variants/rbt/home.do).

## 印

> 「印」depicts a hand「」pressing down on a kneeling person「卩」, which is also its composition.
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 乙112 合集22148`
>
> The relative proportions and positions of the hand and person have changed throughout history. **A bronze script form which looks similar to the photo is**:
>
> # `西周 金 enter image description here 毛公鼎 集成2841`


---

