Deccan Bronze Lamp Head

This beautifully-cast and well-conceived oil lamp head is from the Deccan in central India. It comprises a hollow lotus bud finial, which screws off so that it can be filled, and which serves as the oil reservoir,  from which a thin spout extends. This has a fine, zoomorphic head from the mouth of which which oil drops to the pan below. There are four pans where wicks would float. These project from a double-lotus petal platform. The lamp section rises from a rod cast with more lotus petals and related decoration.

The zoomorphic head is similar to the small heads seen on each side of the brass alams or standards used by the courts in the Deccan. Also compare the casting work and motifs employed on this lamp head with that on a 16th-17th century Deccan spittoon or incense burner base (Najat Haidar & Sardar, 2015, p. 138) and a 17th century Deccan fountain ( (Najat Haidar & Sardar, 2015, p. 233).

The lamp head probably was commissioned for a palace or similar. It mirrors fountain heads commissioned for the various sultans’ palaces in the Deccan. Water was an important part of the architecture of these. Usually the palaces were located next to a reservoir, and the grounds and courtyards often incorporated fountains and other water features.

It has a dark patina and wear where it was most likely to be handled. It is a fine, sculptural piece and is accompanied by a custom-made perspex display stand.