Antique 18th Century Himalayan Nepalese Large Bronze Buddhist Oil lamp Sukunda Nepal

Large excellent-quality antique ritual bronze Buddhist lamp, Sukunda, from 18th-century Nepal, crafted by the Newar tribe in the Kathmandu Valley.

The lamp features a fuel storage pitcher with a dragon-shaped handle crafted from several elements of bronze, hand-forged, repoussé, engraved, soldered, riveted, and hinged together.

The pitcher holds fuel made of clarified yak butter, which is used during rituals. The fuel was then ladled into a beautifully crafted, leaf-shaped dish called a dalupa.

The lamp features a beautifully crafted floral aureole that showcases the figure of Avalokiteshvara, who has forty arms and eight heads at its center. The lamp includes a ladle spoon designed for oil, with the ladle stem handcrafted from a copper alloy. The finial is intricately cast and hand-chiseled in the shape of a peacock.

Buddhist and Hindu Newars in the Kathmandu Valley mark important life events with the Sagan ritual. During this ceremony, a female elder in the household lights the Sukunda lamp and makes food offerings. The dish-shaped lamp features Ganesha and his consort, flanked by rearing lions. Surrounding the waist of the vessel are skulls that symbolize Ganesha's fearsome protective powers, adding to the auspicious imagery of the ritual.

The burning of butter lamps is a common practice in temples during prayers. This ritual is believed to help focus the mind and enhance meditation, as well as dispel the darkness of ignorance. Butter lamps are also used during funerals to facilitate the passage of the deceased into the afterlife. Traditionally, a twisted cotton wick is lit in a bowl filled with clarified yak butter, but today, vegetable oil is often used as an alternative.

NOTE: Please note that this is not a modern tourist souvenir Sukunda like many other Sukunda lamps on the market; it is an authentic 18th-century Sekunda of museum-quality art object.

REFERENCES: To view a related Sekunda lamp in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, please click the link below:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/85...

On April 25, 2008, a similar Sukunda lamp was featured in the Aguttes auction house catalog titled "Arts d'Asie, Arts Primitifs" (Drouot-Richelieu - Salle 2). It had an estimated price of 7,000 to 9,000 euros and was sold for 6,500 euros. This sale occurred 13 years ago, at a time when antiques were generally cheaper than they are today.

https://www.aguttes.com/en/lot/1483/390941

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned book, together with a certificate of authenticity.

MEASUREMENTS:

Width (handle to spout): 27 cm (10.4 inches).

Height: 24.5 cm (9.7 inches).

The overall length of the ladle spoon: 19 cm (7.5 inches).

Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds).

CONDITION:

The lamp is in excellent condition given its age of over 200 years. There are no cracks, restorations, or repairs, and it has a nice old patina. The base shows remnants of gilding.