Pair of Candle Holders / Lamps

This is a pair of unusual, lost-wax cast, brass lamps from Kerala that are the rare combination of being candleholders as well as oil lamps. At the top is the candleholder with a parapet like ring to hold the glass shade in place. Below this is the oil reservoir with six petal-like projections for the wicks. The long, tapered stem has two cushion-like elements with a ball design just above the drip pan at the base.
The ancient art of lost-wax casting dates back nearly 6000 years in India. First, an artist creates an original model from wax. Everything is then encased with layers of clay, thus becoming a mould for the molten metal that will be poured inside it. When this is poured in, the wax melts and the original is lost. Once the metal hardens, the outer layer of clay is smashed, which is what makes each piece unique.