Text, Folio 123 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Byzantine icon painting Classical Antiquity Religious

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 123 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, a Byzantine icon painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 14 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This is a long, narrow wooden block with three rectangular sections. Each section has rows of tiny, raised letters carved into it. The wood looks worn, with a warm brown color. The letters are black and evenly spaced, filling each rectangle completely. These blocks were used to stamp text onto paper or fabric. The precision of the letters suggests this was a way to copy religious writings quickly. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.