The specific type of oil lamp known as 'sukunda' is especially used by the Newar people in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley.
The bigger compartment (the pot/vase) of such a lamp is used as storage container for the oil (often homemade mustardseed oil), which is ladled into the smaller compartment at the front where it is burned with a small wick.
Just like other types of oil lamps, the sukunda is used at a wide variety of religious, ceremonial and social occassions. The decoration on this sukunda here in our shop is quite typical for such a piece; the upper compartment is crowned with a multi-headed cobra hood, which serves as a canopy for Lord Vishnu. The lower compartment shows a relief depiction of Lord Ganesh.
This oil lamp is from vintage origin and clearly shows the signs of its previous usage. As can be seen on the pictures, there's some red residue dripped over Ganesha's depiction; showing the traces of how in previous usages the oil has been ladled from the storage pot into the burner compartment. Also some debris and oxidation has built up over time. This oil lamp has clearly been well used before. A lot of this can probably be cleaned again if you wish to, but for now we chose to keep it like this, to show you some of its history.
Sizes: Total height, measured including the naga canopy, is 9 centimeters. Total lenght, including the burner compartment at the front and the handle at the back, is 12,5 centimeters. Weight is 173 grams.
Sizes of the individual compartments; the storage pot/vase measures approximately 5,5 centimeters high and 4,4 centimeters diameter (measured at the top of the pot/vase). The burner compartment measures approximately 4 centimeters long, 3,5 centimeters wide and 1 centimeter deep.
This sukunda is made of brass. Only one available.
