Text, folio 51 (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 51 (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 wooden block with rows of tiny, sharp metal edges carved into it. The edges form perfect squares in a grid, all identical in size. The block looks worn, with two small white marks near the ends. These blocks were used to stamp text onto paper or fabric. The repeated pattern suggests it was for printing religious writings. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.