Butter Lamp Item Number: Ee4.30 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Silver butter lamp. Plain bowl lined with an additional layer of silver surmounts the stem with pattern of bands of varying width; incised, narrow bands at junction of bowl and stem, and junction of stem and hollow foot, which has a lotus-like design.
History Of Use
Om Mani Padme Han, the Jewel in the Lotus, is the six-syllable mantra chanted by Tibetans to end the rebirth cycle in order to enter nirvana, the state of enlightenment. The predominant religion of Tibet is the Tantric, or Vajrayana, form of Buddhism. Tibetan art has a religious function, with a profusion of specialized ritual objects, such as butter lamps, to aid the worshipper. The butter lamp would have been lit during the ritual process. They are common in shrines and monasteries. Normally one hundred and eight are kept burning at one time.
Cultural Context
daily worship
Item History
- Made in Tibet between 1800 and 1900
- Collected between 1955 and 1973
- Owned by Victor Hardy before December 11, 1979
- Received from Victor Hardy (Donor) on December 11, 1979
What
- Name
- Butter Lamp
- Identification Number
- Ee4.30
- Type of Item
- lamp
- Material
- silver metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast, beaten and incised
- Overall
- height 9.0 cm, diameter 6.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tibetan
- Previous Owner
- Victor Hardy
- Received from
- Victor Hardy (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tibet
When
- Creation Date
- between 1800 and 1900
- Collection Date
- between 1955 and 1973
- Ownership Date
- before December 11, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on December 11, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 81
- Accession Number
- 0580/0078