Indian Oil Lamp with Lakshmi Motif

Dark and moody, this lamp rises from a pinched basin into a ribbed halo.

This brass oil lamp with Lakshmi motif is from Karnataka, South India, and dates to the 20th century. Lamps are lit in many South Indian homes at dusk, and light is generally understood as welcoming auspicious presence into the house. At a glance, a rounded basin with an uneven, battered rim has two raised arms and a pointed spout. The tall arch behind is deeply grooved around the edge, and a small figure sits among scroll shapes under a pointed crown. It is 3.5 inches wide, 3.5 deep and 5 high.

Battered at the edges and still dignified in the back.