Hanging Lamp - 04

This is a large, lost-wax cast bronze, hanging lamp from Kerala with 13 petal-like projections for wicks. The lamp has a circular drip pan at the base on a ring foot. This hanging lamp has the original chain with a hook at the top, and at the base of the chain is a beautiful pear-shaped design with small, stylized flames around the edge. The size of the lamp is 15 x 15 x 54 inches when the chain is fully extended. When not extended, the height is 20 inches.
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.