Text, Folio 31 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
14
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
14
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Text, Folio 31 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, a byzantine_iconography work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This is a long, narrow wooden block covered in tiny, neat holes arranged in rows. The holes look like they’re punched in a grid pattern, all the same size. Two small metal rings are nailed near the ends—maybe to hang it up. This isn’t a painting but a tool. It’s used to stamp text onto paper or fabric, like a giant stamp pad for writing. The holes spell out letters in reverse when ink is pressed through them. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.
