Nepalese Brass Oil Lamp

A wide bowl held aloft on a stem that seems to have been dressed for an occasion.

This oil lamp comes from the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, and is contemporary, made of brass. Butter and oil lamps of this footed form are generally associated with Himalayan Buddhist and Hindu shrines, where light is offered as a sign of devotion and wisdom. The deep flaring bowl sits on a band of lotus petals above a baluster stem, hung with four pendant loops. Below, a bell-shaped foot is pierced with an openwork scale pattern and stepped down to a beaded base. The dark brass shows warm highlights at the edges. It is 9 inches wide, 9 deep and 14 high.

Built to hold a flame, and fairly confident about it.