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object 17 |
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object 17 of 20 Table of Contents
Prince Liu Sheng was buried in 113 B.C. His consort, Dou Wan, died several years later and was interred nearby, like the prince inside a jade shroud. Both Liu Sheng and Dou Wan were buried with extensive provisions for the afterlife, including eighteen bronze lamps. Lamps were highly valued, as they shed light on the enclosed world of the tomb chamber.
One lamp was in the shape of a kneeling ram, another in the shape of a bird holding a dish. This one, from Dou Wan's tomb, is in the shape of a maidservant holding a lamp. The elegant young woman wears a long dress with wide sleeves, and a scarf tied around her neck. Her hair is tucked up under a square cap. Her face is calm, even serene, as she kneels to offer light. The gilt bronze finish contributes additional luminosity. Inscriptions on the lamp refer to the Changxi palace, the residence of the Empress Dowager, and the lamp was probably a gift from the empress to Dou Wan.
On a practical level, the maidservant's right sleeve traps smoke from the burning lamp oil and channels it into the hollow body. A lower tray allows the direction of the light to be adjusted. The whole mechanism breaks down into six parts for cleaning. The lamp is both a functional object and a beautiful work of art.
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