Indian Brass Oil Lamp

A fanning triangular lamp with a little pointed top and three corners ready to burn.

This brass oil lamp is from Karnataka, South India, and dates to the 20th century. It is brass, copper & alloy. Oil lamps of brass and copper alloy have long been used in South Indian homes and shrines, where a small flame is often lit as part of daily devotions. A tray with three rounded points surrounds a hollow basin, crowned at the back by a pyramid-shaped spire over two winged lobes. A small U-shaped emblem is raised at the center. Dark gold, with greenish patches. It is 3.25 inches wide, 3.75 deep and 3.5 high.

Compact, crowned, and decidedly pointed about it.