Provenance Story

Acquired at the Changzhou Antiques Fair. First seen two years prior, then researched extensively before acquisition. Other collectors undervalued it due to dating disagreements, allowing Read Gallery to acquire it at a reasonable price.

Scholarly Connection

The lotus pattern on this plate closely parallels the ceiling relief of Longmen Grottoes Cave 712 (Lotus Cave), as well as Northern Wei lotus-motif inscriptions and gilt-bronze Buddhist statuary. The Lotus Cave is one of the most celebrated late Northern Wei cave shrines at Longmen, famed for its grand ceiling lotus relief. The composition and carving technique of the lotus on this plate represent the same Buddhist artistic tradition expressed across different media.