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AN ARCHAIC BRONZE ‘FIGURAL’ LAMP 東周 戰國 青銅立人燈座
STAND, EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, WARRING
STATES PERIOD 來源
metal stand (2) 藍理捷，紐約，2000年12月
Height 3¼ in., 8.3 cm
PROVENANCE
J.J. Lally & Co., New York, December 2000.
The present figure depicts a standing warrior, his
outstretched arms supporting a cylindrical socket designed
to hold an oil lamp. Clad in intricately scaled armor and a
belted tunic, the warrior’s stern countenance and furrowed
brow convey an aura of vigilance, reflecting the valorized
martial ethos of the period.
The Warring States period was characterized by intense
conflict among rival states, fostering advancements
in military technology and the glorification of warrior
culture. Bronze, traditionally associated with ritual and
power, became increasingly utilized for both practical and
decorative purposes, including lighting. This warrior lamp
stand exemplifies this transition, merging the symbolic
authority of bronze with the functional necessity of
illumination. The emergence of true functional lighting
apparatus during this era marked a significant technological
and aesthetic advancement, driven by innovations in
metallurgy and evolving cultural practices.
The earliest textual evidence of ceremonial lighting culture
in China is found in Chuci·Zhaoxun (Songs of Chu, late 3rd
century BCE), which states: ‘Orchid-scented oils brighten the
candles; ornate lamps glimmer inlaid with gold’ (蘭膏明燭，
華鐙錯些). This lamp stand embodies such sophistication,
transforming a utilitarian object into a vehicle of artistic
expression.
Compare a closely related ‘warrior’ lamp, sold in our Hong
Kong rooms, 18th October 2023, lot 547; see also a slightly
larger lamp stand, previously in the collection of the late
Sir Joseph Hotung, sold in the same rooms, 8th October
2022, lot 15; an inlay-decorated standing figure wearing a
headdress and a long robe, but of a more slender build, is in
the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (accession no. 2003.140.3).
$ 30,000-50,000

98 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11744 A COLLECTING JOURNEY: THE JANE AND LEOPOLD SWERGOLD COLLECTION 99