Text, Folio 124 (verso), 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 124 (verso), 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 covered in tiny, precise holes arranged in neat rows. The holes form a grid pattern, like a stencil or a sieve, stretching across the entire surface. There are two small circular marks near the center, and the wood shows signs of wear. This block was used to stamp text onto paper or fabric—each hole lets ink pass through to create letters. It’s part of an old Buddhist scripture. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see where it’s kept.