Section of a Coffin Platform: Horizontal Panel

A dark limestone panel carved in low relief with a band of lotus-like petals along the upper edge and, below, incised scrolling clouds and a central mythical beast mask. A lower register of wave-like scrolls runs beneath a horizontal ridge. The surface is worn and pitted, with fine incised lines showing the ornamental pattern.

Look closer: Fine incised cloud scrolls and a small face-like motif sit in the central register, easy to miss against the dark stone.

Artist

Unknown

Date

550–77

Medium

limestone

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Size

3400 × 1472 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Lange