Chinese Engraved Textile Printing Stone, C. 1850

Details

Description

With monumental scale and hand-carved detail, this impressive stone form is a rare find we've never before seen in our … Read more With monumental scale and hand-carved detail, this impressive stone form is a rare find we've never before seen in our years of collecting. The stone column is believed to be a large ink roller for printing textiles, used to create fabric tapestries for temples, festivals and special occasions.

The stone roller is hand-carved in shallow relief with Buddhist and Taoist folk imagery. One side depicts a young boy playing a mouth organ while riding a qilin, a mythical creature of benevolence and protection. This motif conveys a blessing for many sons of rank and success.

The opposite side depicts Maitreya, the bodhisattva of loving kindness and the Buddha of the Future. A compassionate being devoted to showing the path to enlightenment, Maitreya sits in meditation with hands held in the gesture of teaching (dharmachakra mudra), conveying the eternal motion of the wheel of life.

Both figures are enveloped by a swirling backdrop of plants and flowers, an intricate detail that gives the scenes a sense of magic and whimsy. Shaped from solid limestone in the mid-19th century or earlier, the engraved stone has aged beautifully with time with softened lines and a rich patina. See less