Item No.: 1706
Name: A Jun ware four-wick oil lamp with a blue glaze and purplish-red splashes
Period: Song dynasty
Height: 12.4 cm
The four-wick arrangement is the defining functional feature of this oil lamp, directing attention to the relationship between its design and the light it could provide. Blue glaze and purplish-red splashes give the surface lively contrasts. Considered alongside its fuel-holding form, the glaze shows how a practical lighting implement could also offer considerable visual interest.