FRAGMENT OF QUADRANGULAR BUDDHIST VOTIVE STONE STELE
China, Dated by inscription from the early 6th century and possibly from the period
Quadrangular, flat and horizontal, it is inscribed on the front, recessed, of what seems to be a Buddhist sutra, here developed on ten (10) columns. Flanking this text is an arhat / lohan / luohan with a lotus flower on the left; two women, one with a moon-shaped face and a high bun evoking the court ladies of the Tang Dynasty on the right. Possibly inscriptions in red on the back. Modern base facilitating its display (restorations and missing parts, at least three parts joined together).
Dimensions (excluding the base) : H : 25 cm - W : 46,5 cm - Thickness : 5 cm
Note: The inscription transcribed to the best of our ability seems to read as follows: "永平X年十月七日仕和寺足道僧X造弥像一區X問法清X女周可XX光也安隐一众X斯问". Note that the first column from the right places this stele in a year of the reign of Emperor Yongping ??of the North Wei Dynasty (508-512).
Provenance: Reputed to be from the Raufast Collection

A FRAGMENT OF STONE BUDDHIST VOTIVE STELE
China, Dated by inscription to the early 6th century and maybe of the period