From the point of view of sculpture, the traditional Indian lamp is a revered work of art. They are found in the most devoted Indian homes for their auspiciousness and the fact that, when all the dias are lit in unison, they are a sight to behold. The traditional Indian lamp that you see on this page stands out even amongst the most exquisite of traditional Indian lamps.The first thing that strikes the viewer is the abundance of faunal motifs in the work. For legs, this lamp has three elephants with long trunks (Gajalakshmi). Dangling in the spaces between each pair is a miniature bell. Above their heads an ornately carved stem, surrounded by three peacocks with just head and neck.Immediately above is the five-wick tray of continuous lamps. At the zenith is a peacock with the loveliest plumage, its every detail having been carved with the greatest care by the sculptor. Note the circlet of discrete dias at the very base of the composition.
