Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Lamp in the Shape of a Ram
Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
Not on view
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.
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