Lamp
206 BC-AD 9 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The base of this bronze lamp is in the shape of a bowl standing on three legs. From one side of the bowl rises a pipe that looks like a bird with a long curving neck and a wide open mouth. The accessories are a flat dish with a handle and two shutters. The person using the lamp would fill the dish with oil and move the shutters to adjust the direction and brightness of the light. Any soot or smoke would have been conducted through the bird's hollow neck into the bowl. The entire lamp can be dismantled and cleaned.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
Brief description | Met, China, vess/cont/holders Met, China, vess/cont/holders Met, China, vess/cont/holders Met, China, vess/cont/holders Met, China, vess/cont/holders |
Physical description | The base of this bronze lamp is in the shape of a bowl standing on three legs. From one side of the bowl rises a pipe that looks like a bird with a long curving neck and a wide open mouth. The accessories are a flat dish with handle and two shutters. Oil would have been put in the dish, and the shutters are movable to adjust the direction and brightness of the light. Any soot or smoke would have been conducted through the bird's hollow neck into the bowl. The entire vessel can be dismantled and cleaned. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Gallery label | Lamp
Western Han dynasty
206 BC-AD 8
Oil would have been placed in the dish. Both dish and shutters are movable to adjust the direction and brightness of the light.
Cast bronze
Dr W.L. Hildburgh Gift
Museum no. M.7-1945(2007) |
Credit line | Hildburgh Gift |
Summary | The base of this bronze lamp is in the shape of a bowl standing on three legs. From one side of the bowl rises a pipe that looks like a bird with a long curving neck and a wide open mouth. The accessories are a flat dish with a handle and two shutters. The person using the lamp would fill the dish with oil and move the shutters to adjust the direction and brightness of the light. Any soot or smoke would have been conducted through the bird's hollow neck into the bowl. The entire lamp can be dismantled and cleaned. |
Collection | |
Accession number | M.7PART1 to 5-1945 |
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Record created | December 19, 2002 |
Record URL |
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