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September 2022 by WRL
Mr. Wong is so nice! He helped me pick two seals to be carved with my shodo name. Between his character dictionary and the internet, we came up with good choices in different scripts. He's probably one of the last people in the US who was trained in the traditional methods of seal carving in China. We're lucky to have him.
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January 2022 by Christina Martinez
Amazing artwork and their friendliness and customer service was top notch!!!
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August 2021 by Michael C.
A long time ago, I bought a chop--a Chinese seal stamp carved from soapstone--with my name. I rediscovered the chop but I could not find the Chinese seal ink, which is a typically red paste. I did some online research I came across this store, Rainbow Sign & Art. There's not much of a digital footprint. I found one article that appears to be from a USF student describing the owner, John Wong, as likely the last seal carver in Chinatown. I brought my seal and had a great conversation with him about different seal inks and how to use my seal to get a good stamp. He's knowledgeable in calligraphy and carving, and he offers a lot of stuff in the shop. I happily bought seal stamp ink from him, and I would come back again and I'm thinking about buying another seal from him that writes my name in a different style. There are souvenir pieces that range from $4 to $40 for tourists and people interested in Chinese calligraphy. Logistics: Definitely call before you go in, because the owner has posted hours but sometimes doesn't come in. Typically 12:30pm-4pm. John told me to call when I was in front because the front door of the building is locked. John speaks English but is more comfortable in Mandarin or Cantonese. It helps to bring a friend who speaks one of them. Also on his business card: Mailorder Stamp Business Just send us a note with your First or Last Name, Date of Birth, Return Address and a Check for $30 (Payable to Rainbow Sign & Art). This includes: Soapstone Stamp Seal (topped with your Chinese Zodiac animal), with name carved in calligraphy, stamp container, stamp ink pad. Once order received, stamp will be sent within 3 days. The 2019 article that describes his store:
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June 2021 by C. Corii L.
John Wong is the proprietor of this store. If you speak Mandarin or Cantonese, it may be easier to communicate with him, but he also speaks English. Due to the pandemic, you may need to call the number posted outside of the office complex to his store so he can come open up the front door and let you in. He seems to have had his small shop for decades, and it's marvelously and curiously stuffed with all things having to do with Chinese calligraphy, name seals, and Chinese painting. Mr. Wong is very skilled and provided expert recommendations on how to style and arrange the characters for my two daughters' name seals and also carved a beautiful seal for my mom, all in the same day. He is very friendly, helpful, and enthusiastic. Visiting his shop and getting the name seals and chops carved was the highlight of our little outing to San Francisco.
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May 2021 by Mike B.
What a great experience. Went here to have some Chinese calligraphy done for our daughter. John was very polite and did an excellent job. Would recommend to anyone. Business is inside the building and downstairs. Might need to call to have him open the door up for you.
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July 2018 by Mike R.
So glad to have found this lovely shop in Chinatown. My wife and I were visiting from Oregon, and I had this secret hope that I would be able to find a calligrapher to write out the Heart Sutra for me in Chinese (a Buddhist text). 黃書家 (Mr. Wong) is a master calligrapher, and he produced not only a beautiful work of art for my office, but also imbued this sacred text with a solemnity and beauty you can feel when you look at the work. Thank you, so very much.
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December 2017 by Alexandria E.
The nice older man was super awesome! He was very friendly and gave us good information about Chinese writing. I learned something new for sure. Both me and my boyfriend have longer names and he fit them on there perfectly. The price was very good considering how expensive things can be in Sam Francisco & he painted fairly quickly. I would defiantly recommend this to a friend or anyone that is traveling to Chinatown. It can be great as a gift or for yourself! I hung mine up as soon as I got home :)
