An unusual bronze cast of a Tang Buddhist stone stele, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing period | 清嘉慶 銅佛像龕

Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997). 

Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. H.5.3.

吳權博士 (1910-1997) 收藏

吳蓮伯博物院，編號H.5.3

This rare scholar's object, a bronze cast of a Tang dynasty stone stele, had a specially made wood stand, which was inscribed in 1798, 1799, 1816, and 1831. This bronze cast was considered an imitation of a Six Dynasties bronze figure. The inscriptions on one side read:

‘Weng Fanggang admired and inscribed on the 15th [or 16th] day of the autumn 7th month of the wuwu year, third year of Jiaqing [1798]’. Signed with seal suzhai.

‘Yi Bingshou of Tingzhou admired from the capital residence in the middle of the 3rd month of the 4th year of Jiaqing [1799]’.

‘Ye Haichang of Jiangxia respectfully admired at the Moon Pavilion in the xinmao year of Daoguang [1831]’. Signed with seals haichang and jiangxia waishi.

And the other side reads:

‘On the 25th day of the 11th month of the bingzi year of Jiaqing [1816], at the Heng Mountain home, Haiyan, walked under the moon and through the mountains, this was brought to me. It’s a Northern Wei dynasty Buddha of the Six dynasties. As for the history of this sculpture, I was previously told by my friend Cao Shanyan after he returned from Hangzhou. Seeing this today, I

am glad it’s the destiny of archaism. Shuwei, Zhang Tingji’. Signed with seal Shuwei.