Stone Buddha Made During the Datong Period

CHINA

Enclosed by a border, the six characters of this seal are divided between three columns of two characters each. Following the layout of ancient Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE) imperial seals, the piece is composed in large seal script with thick, bold strokes, similar to cast iron printing. The workmanship is neat and bright while the characters appear simple and wholesome. In its entirety, the engraving exudes a strong and vigorous demeanor with a solid and robust form.
Li Yinsang was an artist from Wuxian(present day Suzhou, Jiangsu). Skilled in calligraphy, he often modeled his works after the steles of the Qin (221–207 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties. The brilliant disciple of seal engraving master, Huang Shiling, Li specialized in creating imperial seals. His works were unusually intense and deeply engraved within a compact and well-constructed layout, and his cutting technique was considered precise and sharp.