Chinese Marble Buddhist Stele

A lion mask above, a seated Buddha below, and one block of pale marble holding both.

This Buddhist stele comes from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is marble. Hebei has a long association with Buddhist sculpture in pale stone, and carved steles of this type gathered sacred figures within a single architectural frame. Here a Buddha sits with one hand raised, his robes cascading over a lotus throne. Two smaller attendants stand at his sides on lotus pedestals, haloed. A monster mask holds up swags of drapery at the top. Thirty-four inches high and 22 wide.

The carving has softened at the edges. The composure has not.