Lamp
Unknown Artist
1st–3rd century
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
2 x 4 1/2 in. (5.1 x 11.4 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
India
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1933
Accession Number
33.50.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate stone lamp, crafted by an unknown artist in India during the 1st3rd century CE, a glimpse into everyday life and artistry of the ancient subcontinent. Measuring just 2 x 4½ inches (5.1 x 11.4 cm), it exemplifies Kushan period's blend of functionality and sculptural finesse, when stone carving flourished amid trade routes connecting India to Central Asia and beyond. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1933, it in the Metropolitan Museum of's Asian Art department, classified as a sculpture rather than mere utility object. Lamps like this were vital for oil illumination in homes, t...