Lamp in the Shape of a Ram in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July 2017

Lamp in the Shape of a Ram


Object Details

Period: Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9)

Culture: China

Medium: Gilt bronze

Dimensions: H. 8 9/16 in. (21.8 cm); W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); L. 10 13/16 in. (27.4 cm)

Classification: Metalwork

Credit Line: Lent by Xi'an Museum


The ram, the word for which in Chinese is pronunced similarly to the one for “auspicious,” was a common symbol of luck. This “golden ram” is a paean to Han ingenuity. Via a hinge on its neck, the ram’s back opens for use as an oil receptacle (see ill.), and a spout ensures that leftover fuel flows back into the hollow body. This exceptional piece accords with the appreciation of a gold ram lamp expressed in a Han poem: A person of virtue is diligent in work, and only feels the day is too short. / A golden ram lamp is lit up, extending the daylight.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/696719