On a recent weekday morning, as roosters crowed outside, Ms. Foppiani worked in a small room, closely examining a mug with a wide, flat handle that has an old, block print design.

WSJ: Lily Pads and Bamboo Stalks, Made of Clay

Calligrapher Carrie Shuping, who specializes in wedding invitations, gets many requests from brides these days for a guest's name to be written in cursive or italics but the address in block print.

WSJ: The New Script for Teaching Handwriting Is No Script at All

Block engraving may be used to print books in a variety of traditional styles, to create modern books with conventional binding, or to reproduce ancient Chinese books.

UNESCO: Culture

Finally, when the block is ready to be used, it is covered with ink and pressed by hand onto paper to print the final image.

UNESCO: Culture