What is the oldest example of block printing?

The oldest known example of block printing is the Diamond Sutra. Produced around 886 CE, the scroll is a Buddhist religious text and was discovered in Dunhuang, China. Anthropologists believe that the Chinese developed the art of block printing 4,000 years ago, but so far, none of the earlier works have been discovered. On 1stDibs, find a variety of block prints from some of the world's top galleries.

What is a printing block called?

A printing block is sometimes called a printmaking block, a wood block or a block. You can also refer to one simply as a printing block. Artists carve printmaking blocks with designs, apply ink and then press them against a surface to produce artwork. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of block prints from some of the world's top galleries.

What is Indian block printing?

Indian block printing is an art form that originated in India during ancient times. It involves carving a block of teak wood with an intricate pattern and then using it to press ink onto fabric like silk or cotton. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Indian block printed apparel and art.

Which Indian state is famous for block printing?

Rajasthan is the Indian state that is most famous for block printing, though it is also a popular dyeing method in a variety of other states. Rajasthan features various cities known for different techniques of this textile printing method. On 1stDibs, find a range of authentic Indian block printed textiles.

Vintage Printing Blocks

Large Woodcuts

Takayanagi Yutaka

Black And White Woodcuts

Copperplate Prints

Woodcuts Signed

Sosaku Hanga

German Expressionist Prints

Jerusalem Sculpture

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Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales.Large Original Modern British Landscape Oil Painting.

By Norman Clifford Jaques

Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset

Scholarship to Italy and France in 1948 and the Giles bequest award in Block printing, Victoria and Albert

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales.Large Original Modern British Landscape Oil Painting.

Norman Clifford Jaques
Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales.Large Original Modern British Landscape Oil Painting.

$4,266

German Israeli Expressionist Woodcut Print Pencil Signed Jerusalem

By Jacob Pins

Located in Surfside, FL

expressionism and traditional Japanese wood block printing. From 1956 to 1977, he taught at Israel's leading art

Category

20th Century Expressionist Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Woodcut

Jacob Pins
German Israeli Expressionist Woodcut Print Pencil Signed Jerusalem

$650

Scarlatti Sonata in B Minor

By Hildegarde Haas

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

reviewing these shows. The physical demands of carving her own blocks and hand printing each impression

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Geometric Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Gouache

Hildegarde Haas
Scarlatti Sonata in B Minor, c. 1950

$2,400

1944 Israeli German Expressionist Woodcut Print Vintage Woodblock Bezalel School

By Jacob Pins

Located in Surfside, FL

expressionism and traditional Japanese wood block printing. From 1956 to 1977, he taught at Israel's leading art

Category

1940s Expressionist Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Woodcut

Jacob Pins
1944 Israeli German Expressionist Woodcut Print Vintage Woodblock Bezalel School, 1944

$550

Large Vintage Liberty of London Silk Scarf Cushion Pillow with Irish Linen Pink

Located in Belfast, Northern Ireland

the hand printing method. Liberty’s block printed scarves on silk were produced in relatively small

Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Linen, Silk

Large Vintage Liberty of London Silk Scarf Cushion Pillow with Irish Linen Pink

$1,643

Cornish Fishing Village

By Ernest W. Watson

Located in Surfside, FL

(1957). Other of his books were Linoleum Block Printing (1929), Pencil Drawing (1937), Color and Method

Category

20th Century Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Linocut

Ernest W. Watson
Cornish Fishing Village

$450

Patriotic Motif Printing Block

Located in North Egremont, MA

Star motif printing block from a Baltimore textile factory. carved and painted wood with felt added

Category

1940s American Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Wood, Felt

Patriotic Motif Printing Block

$650

Printing Block Form; Bingo Card

Located in Madison, WI

Printing form as wall art.

Category

20th Century American Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Steel

Printing Block Form; Bingo Card

$190

Burlesque Poster Carved Wood Printing Block

Located in North Hollywood, CA

To promote a changing line up of entertainers at a burlesque club, a simple printed poster had to be on hand. This wooden board, in two sections, could be ink rolled in colors, run t...

Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Wood

Burlesque Poster Carved Wood Printing Block

$1,250

Printers Block Table Lamps

Located in Nashville, TN

Antique printing blocks fashioned into table lamps. Depth includes the base of lamp.

Category

20th Century American Vintage Printing Blocks

Printers Block Table Lamps

$1,450

As I opened Fire

By Roy Lichtenstein

Located in Zeist, UT

Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Offset

Roy Lichtenstein
As I opened Fire, 1964

$17,800

The Water Came and Quenched the Fire

By Frank Stella

Located in New York, NY

Hand colored & collaged with lithographic, linoleum block & silkscreen printings, heightened by the

Category

1980s Vintage Printing Blocks

Frank Stella
The Water Came and Quenched the Fire, 1986

SALE Twelve Only Copper-Plate Etchings

Located in New Orleans, LA

wood-block printing in muted tones; oak frames

Category

1940s French Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Paper

SALE Twelve Only Copper-Plate Etchings

$10,500

Vintage Orange and Yellow Hand-Blocked Indian Cloth

Located in Oakland Park, FL

, indigo, blue or violet. Interestingly, the cloth printing blocks are made out of teak wood or sisum by

Category

1940s Indian Moorish Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Cotton

Vintage Orange and Yellow Hand-Blocked Indian Cloth

$375

Vintage Indian Hand-Blocked Blue and White Decorative Lumbar Pillow

By Atelier Lam

Located in Oakland Park, FL

blocks. It is the earliest, simplest and slowest of all methods of textile printing. Block printing by

Category

1960s French French Provincial Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Cotton, Linen, Down, Feathers

Vintage Indian Hand-Blocked Blue and White Decorative Lumbar Pillow

$315

Vintage Liberty London Geometric Pop Art Silk Scarf Irish Linen Cushion Pillow

Located in Great Britain, Northern Ireland

indicating the hand printing method. Liberty’s block printed scarves on silk were produced in relatively

Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Linen, Silk

Vintage Liberty London Geometric Pop Art Silk Scarf Irish Linen Cushion Pillow

$513

Vintage Liberty of London Silk Scarf and Irish Linen Cushion Pillow

Located in Great Britain, Northern Ireland

can see a very slight overlap in places on the edge of the colors indicating the hand printing method

Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Printing Blocks

Materials

Linen, Silk

Vintage Liberty of London Silk Scarf and Irish Linen Cushion Pillow

$577

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Vintage Printing Blocks For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of vintage printing blocks for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and iron, all vintage printing blocks available were constructed with great care. Vintage printing blocks have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Mid-Century Modern vintage printing blocks are consistently popular styles. Many vintage printing blocks are appealing in their simplicity, but Rajhastani produced popular vintage printing blocks that are worth a look.

How Much are Vintage Printing Blocks?

Vintage printing blocks can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $228, while the lowest priced sells for $25 and the highest can go for as much as $1,600.

Questions About Vintage Printing Blocks

What is the oldest example of block printing?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
The oldest known example of block printing is the Diamond Sutra. Produced around 886 CE, the scroll is a Buddhist religious text and was discovered in Dunhuang, China. Anthropologists believe that the Chinese developed the art of block printing 4,000 years ago, but so far, none of the earlier works have been discovered. On 1stDibs, find a variety of block prints from some of the world's top galleries.
What is a printing block called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
A printing block is sometimes called a printmaking block, a wood block or a block. You can also refer to one simply as a printing block. Artists carve printmaking blocks with designs, apply ink and then press them against a surface to produce artwork. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of block prints from some of the world's top galleries.
What is Indian block printing?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Indian block printing is an art form that originated in India during ancient times. It involves carving a block of teak wood with an intricate pattern and then using it to press ink onto fabric like silk or cotton. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Indian block printed apparel and art.
Which Indian state is famous for block printing?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Rajasthan is the Indian state that is most famous for block printing, though it is also a popular dyeing method in a variety of other states. Rajasthan features various cities known for different techniques of this textile printing method. On 1stDibs, find a range of authentic Indian block printed textiles.