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DOUBLE BASIN LAMP
2nd century CE
Pinkish earthenware, green glaze (iridescent in places)
Cv/74.D
79 x 36 cm
Support
Provenance: Henan (?)
This three-story lamp consists of two sections, corresponding to basins (a lower one and an upper one) with their supporting element, and eight arms, also removable, equipped with cups for the combustion oil. The lower section is composed of a large basin, placed on a high truncated cone-shaped foot, in the centre of which is inserted a hollow column. On the broad, flat edge of the lower basin there are four equidistant holes into which just as many curved arms are inserted: each ends with a crested bird's head and supports, applied on the horizontal part, a shallow smaller cup. The upper basin is distinguished by the four arms equipped with cups, which in this case end in a horned dragon's head. The column that starts in the center of this second basin continues straight and flares upwards to form the body of a bird represented in full shape.