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Lamp with Nine Branches

Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Not on view

Multibranch lamps were popular in ancient China. The present example has a surmounting oil tray in the shape of a waterbird, possibly a duck. Its nine branches are arranged in three tiers, each carrying a small heart-shaped tray with a spike at the center to hold a wick. The lamp was discovered in a large, lavishly furnished tomb, possibly that of a government official, in the far southwest of the empire. Found together with a complete set of ritual vessels, costumes, and lacquerwares, the lamp demonstrates the reach and influence of the central government.

Lamp with Nine Branches, Bronze, China — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

西汉青铜多枝灯

Title: Lamp with Nine Branches

Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)

Culture: China

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: H. 33 7/16 in. (85 cm); Diam. of base 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)

Classification: Metalwork

Credit Line: Lent by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum

Accession Number: SL.1.2017.17.11a–t

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Asian Art at The Met

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