Buddhist Votive Stele at The Guimet Museum, Paris

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This majestic monument shaped as a 'mandorla' on a sturdy quadrangular base showcases the historical Buddha Shakyamuni alongside The Buddha Dainichi's "universal body" - both surrounded by devout monks and bodhisattvas. On its opposite side, a Maitreya Buddha is depicted in future time. The distinctive style clearly points to a creation of the Northern Qi Dynasty era (550-577), a pivotal period bridging Chinese expression in sculpture and Buddhist icons. A dual inscription on the back proudly proclaims, "The monk Fayin, bikshu disciple of Buddha." Crafted from exquisite white marble with vibrant polychrome highlights, this masterpiece likely originated from the imperial workshops of Hebei. This remarkable object is part of the groundbreaking initiative "Scan The World," introduced by MyMiniFactory. Through this non-profit endeavor, a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe is being created for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort, welcoming contributions from individuals with interesting items to share - simply email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can participate and help enrich this valuable digital repository.