Pair of Butter Lamps

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This pair of votive lamps would have stood before a sculpture or painting to receive offerings of butter from the devout. The dancing goddesses shown in lobed frames, some of whom play instruments, reference the heavenly realm of the gods. Additional auspicious Buddhist symbols (mangalas) are set into frames at the neck and around the foot of each lamp. The exuberant engraved floral pattering that fills the background of these lamps speaks to ideas of abundance and prosperity. The style of the repoussé and engraving is typical of central Tibetan metalwork.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art