Elegant cast brass oil lamp from Tamil Nadu.
At the top is a Kalasam, a form of an inverted pot, with a pointed head facing the sky. Traditionally Kalasams were filled with grains, to ensure that in times of floods or disaster, grains could be planted using these stores. On the Kalasam are engraved lappets, below this is a circular pan with a single spout for the wick. The stem is faceted, which is unusual, and at the base the drip pan and the flared stem base are engraved with lappets.