Nepalese Oil Lamp Depicting Kneeling Elephant

A kneeling elephant lifts the lamp in its trunk.

This bronze oil lamp in the form of a kneeling elephant was made in Nepal in the 20th century. Elephants are commonly associated with royalty, strength and temple processions in South Asia, and lamps like this are often placed in shrines. The animal kneels on a stepped, lotus-petal plinth, facing left, its ears detailed and its back covered with an incised cloth. The trunk curls up to hold a lotus-form lamp cup on a stem of leaves. The bronze is warm brown with golden highs.

About eight inches tall and eleven wide. It will hold a candle and a room’s attention.