A LARGE AND RARE DATED WHITE MARBLE STELE FRAGMENT EASTERN WEI DYNASTY, DATED TO THE THIRD YEAR OF THE WU DING PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 545 |

the solid rectangular base with an eighteen-line calligraphic inscription and dated 'Wu Ding third year' to the back, the front carved with a kneeling European figure supporting a censer, flanked by two ferocious seated lions and the bases of two acolytes, all supporting a figure of Maitreya seated in 'Royal ease', flanked by the bases of two pairs of acolytes, the crystalline stone of white tone