Chinese Monastery Stamp Depicting Quan Yin, Based

A square tablet in rusty red line-work, with a seated figure that has settled into a lotus-like base.

This monastery stamp depicting Quan Yin is from China, and dates to the early 20th century. It is soapstone. Soapstone, or steatite, is a soft, talc-rich stone that carves easily, which is why it has long been used for seals and small sculptures in China. A flat, squared plaque carved with a seated robed figure, hands folded in the lap, in fine incised lines filled with red. The ground is hatched with vertical strokes. The plaque is held upright on a black metal stand. It is 3 inches wide, 1.63 deep and 5 high.

Serene in the face of a very small frame.