ticketsMember | Make a donation

Lamp in the Shape of a Ram

Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
The ram, the word for which in Chinese is pronunced similarly to the one for “auspicious,” was a common symbol of luck. This “golden ram” is a paean to Han ingenuity. Via a hinge on its neck, the ram’s back opens for use as an oil receptacle (see ill.), and a spout ensures that leftover fuel flows back into the hollow body. This exceptional piece accords with the appreciation of a gold ram lamp expressed in a Han poem: A person of virtue is diligent in work, and only feels the day is too short. / A golden ram lamp is lit up, extending the daylight.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 西汉 青铜鎏金羊灯
  • Title: Lamp in the Shape of a Ram
  • Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Gilt bronze
  • Dimensions: H. 8 9/16 in. (21.8 cm); W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); L. 10 13/16 in. (27.4 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork
  • Credit Line: Lent by Xi'an Museum
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art