Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0216-0125   CAS 0216-0125; Lamp
Category Jewelry & Metalwork; Lamps
Object Name Lamp
Culture
Global Region South-Central Asia
Country Tibet
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name
Date of Manufacture 1800s, probably
Collection Name Allen Collection of Lamps
Materials Metal: Silver
Description Silver oil lamp; Oil was used in the cup on top; Round base tapers to a plateau then a round protrusion in the center of the stock; The lamp then tapers out; Ornate silver design, rows of raised dots on based; The round center has a flower on each side surrounded by tiny squares; The top part has two rows of a reed-like design with the tops of the trees protruding; Known as a butter lamp, due to use: a wick is created by wrapping cotton around a small stick of wood, one end of which has been whittled to a point; this wick is stuck into a tiny hole at the bottom of the larger reservoir which is then filled with yak butter.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 11.0, Max Diam = 8.0