Lotus Bud Marker

This sculptural stone post was hand-carved in the 18th-century from a solid block of limestone. The column is crowned with a lotus bud - a symbol of purity and perfection. Trailing vines carved in low relief wrap around the base, dotted with raised carvings of four-petal blossoms. The post was likely part of a taller marker that stood outside the home of a wealthy merchant in northern China over two centuries ago.