Lot 101. A bronze oil lamp, Tang dynasty (618-907); Height 4⅞ in., 12.4 cm. Estimate: 15,000 - 20,000 USD. Lot sold: 52,920 USD. © Sotheby's 2021

five leaf-form feet arching to support a wide circular drip pan with an everted rim, a conical post rising from the center of the pan and opening into a second pan modeled as a lotus blossom with naturalistic undulating petals, then extending further to support a small hexalobed oil cup at the pinnacle, in the lower drip pan three jovial lokapala modeled completely in the round each extending one arm up to support the central lotus-form pan and swinging their other arm merrily outward, the guardians dressed in tunics and armor and with their characteristic bulging eyes and high cheekbones.

From the Collection of Bruce Dayton and Ruth Stricker Dayton.

Provenance: J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 4th December 2001.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 21 September 2021