Sealing wax is a wax material of a seal which, after melting, hardens quickly, forming a bond that is difficult to break without noticeable tampering. Wax is used to verify that something such as a document is unopened, to verify the sender's identity, and as decoration. Sealing wax can also be used to take impressions of other seals. Wax was used to seal letters close and later, from about the 16th century, envelopes. Long before sealing wax was employed, the Romans used bitumen for this purpose.
Letters sealed with wax in a painting from 1675 by Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts
A donor portrait by Petrus Christus, c. 1455, showing a print attached to the wall with sealing wax
Wax seal displaying the Fonseca Padilla family arms
Personal seal of William Stoughton (judge) with his coat of arms, as it appears on the warrant for the execution of Bridget Bishop for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give low viscosity liquids. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as hexane, benzene and chloroform. Natural waxes of different types are produced by plants and animals and occur in petroleum.
Commercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollers.
Ceroline brand wax for floors and furniture, first half of 20th century. From the Museo del Objeto del Objeto collection
Wax candle.
A wax coating makes this Manila hemp waterproof
