China, a monumental hand carved and hand painted votive model of a d wooden pagoda, 177.5cm, 71”h and 55cm, 22” in width, Ming/Qing dynasty (1368-1644 CE)

the monumental architectural model carved and painted in seven tiers plus a finial representation of a lotus bud with each tier in hexagonal plan with upswept eaves/roof timbers, incised roof lines, vertical columns, horizontal siding on each tier, open windows, bracketed arms duogang with pegged construction and remnants of original polychrome including vermillion,yellow, white, black, and blue greens in fine weathered condition from age.

The origin of the pagoda traces back to the Indian stupa around 2-3rd century BC. The stupa or dome shaped monument was commemorative architecture and used to store sacred relics. This form was adopted and embellished for enshrining sacred relics and writings in East Asia. Most Chinese pagodas are multi storied and characterized by odd numbers of levels. Early pagodas were usually wooden and were quadrangles, hexagonal, octagonal, or twelve sided. In the Liao Dynasty wooden pagodas were popular and later, more decorative pagodas were introduced with carved flowers, honeycombed shrines, animals and figures of Buddha and Disciples. Yingxian Muta Wooden Pagoda is a notable example for Liao pagoda architecture. Built in 1056, it is located in the village of Yinxian in Shanxi Province, about 70 kilometers south of the old Liao Dynasty capital city of Datong. Yingxian Muta is the oldest all-wood pagoda in China and the highest all-wood pagoda in the world standing at 67.31 meters and with a base diameter of 30.27 meters. There are windows on all eight sides of the pagoda, offering excellent views of the surrounding countryside. It is considered a masterpiece of Chinese timber construction.