Bronze, c.3rd – 1st century AD.
Height: 40cm; length: 30cm; width: 27cm.
Discovered in Lach Truong commune, Hoang Hoa district, Thanh Hoa province.
This artefact was discovered by Swedish archaeologist Olov Janse, during the excavation of a brick grave and was moved to the Museum in 1935.
The lamp is made in the shape of a male figurine who has his upper body bare and who wears a loincloth. He is kneeling and his two hands are holding an oil plate. The figurine has an oval face, his eyes are open wide, and he is shown smiling faintly. He has a crown and his hair is tied in a topknot. Three S-shaped branches are attached to his shoulders and back, each holding a dish for the lamp oil and is attached to a kneeling small figurine. Four small kneeling musicians are attached to the thighs and feet of the main figurine, of whom two are playing flutes. The main figurine wears ornaments on his arms and wrists, as well as circular earrings. His shoulders and waist are decorated with bands of lotus petals.
This artefact is a rare and distinctive product of the late Dong Son period and reflect interactions between local and Indian cultural traditions. The lamp, with its distinctive shape and decoration, reflects the artistic talent, aesthetics refinement and adaptive capacity of the ancient Viet people.
Dương Hà.