Text, folio 164 (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

Dominant colour

Text, folio 164 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

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

About this work

This is a long, narrow wooden block with rows of tiny, sharp metal edges. The edges form letters and symbols carved into the wood, arranged in neat columns. Two small white dots mark the center of the block, like bookmarks. This was used to stamp inked text onto paper or fabric—like a giant stamp pad for writing. The letters look like an old script, maybe from a long time ago. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.