Buddhist stele

Historical period(s)
Northern Wei dynasty, Period of Division, ca. 520s
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
H x W x D: 99.6 x 81.2 x 27.7 cm (39 3/16 x 31 15/16 x 10 7/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1968.54
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Sculpture, Stone
Type

Stele

Keywords
abhaya mudra, apsara, bodhisattva, Buddha, Buddhism, China, lotus, Northern Wei dynasty (386 - 534), Period of Division (220 - 589), varada mudra, WWII-era provenance
Provenance

From at least 1925 to 1968
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY [1]

From 1968
Freer Gallery of Art, given by Agnes E. Meyer, 1968 [2]

Notes:

[1] The stele is documented as a part of the Meyer collection in Osvald Sirén, Chinese Sculpture From the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century (London: Benn, Ltd., 1925), vol. 1, p. 48, vol. 2, pl. 183.

[2] The stele is included in Agnes E. Meyer’s Deed of Gift, listed as no. 38 in the document’s Annex, dated July 24, 1967, copy in object file. It was accessioned to the Freer Gallery’s collection in 1968.

Previous Owner(s)

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer (1875-1959) and (1887-1970)

Published References
  • Osvald Siren. Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century: Over 900 Specimens in Stone, Bronze, Lacquer and Wood, Principally from Northern China. 4 vols., London. pl. 183.
  • Thomas Lawton. Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Memorial Exhibition. Exh. cat. Washington, 1971. cat. 16, pp. 32-33.
  • Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Art: Freer Gallery of Art handbook. Washington, 1976. p. 36.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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