Page 61 - 2020 December 2 Bonhams Arts of Devotion bronzes and Stone carvings

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A LARGE SILVER REPOUSSÉ COVERED OFFERING LAMP The butter lamp, also called ‘The Dharma Light’, is an essential ritual
TIBET, 19TH CENTURY item in Tibetan Buddhism facilitating the offering of light to enlightened
Himalayan Art Resources item no.16906 beings. The lamp would have been prominently displayed beside
38 cm (15 in.) high a temple altar and kept burning as a perpetual flame, tended to by
monks.
HKD70,000 - 90,000
Provenance
西藏 十九世紀 銀質錘揲供燈 Sotheby’s, London, 4 July 1983, lot 15
Uppsala Auktionskammare, Uppsala, 7-10 June 2017, lot 1444

The cover’s two pierced cartouches and gallery are worked in floral
designs beneath a fluted finial. The deep bowl—supported on a
compressed vase and high conical lotus foot—has four cartouches,
depicting the Eight Buddhist Treasures (ashtamangala). The remaining
surface is chased with scrolling floral designs. The shape and fine
decoration compare favorably to another lamp sold at Christie’s, New
York, 24 March 2011, lot 1172. A comparable pair without their covers
are in the Museum der Kulturen (HAR 3314997).

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