Small Silver Butter Lamp, Tibet, 19th century

Small, High-grade Silver Butter Lamp

This small yak butter lamp is of beaten solid silver. The silver that has been used is noticeably high-grade.

Such a lamp would have been used on an altar, filled to the brim with yak butter oil and with a single wick afloat in the oil.

The rim of the foot and the rim of the bowl are lined with applied silver motifs (one is missing to the foot).

The lamp is in a fine, stable condition without significant losses, dents or repairs. Its age is obvious as is the patina, with the contours having been rounded and softened from years of use and handling.

UK art market