Buddha (Fragment of a Stele) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

myminifactory

This limestone sculpture with remnants of pigment hails from the Eastern Wei dynasty (circa 534-550) or the mid-6th century. It's a fragment of a larger stele, a stone slab typically taller than it is wide, erected as a monument and often used for funerary or commemorative purposes. Stelae may be employed for government notices or as territorial markers to demarcate borders or boundaries. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe accessible free to the public. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.