甘肃出土战国秦式三足铜灯亮相省博

造型独特保存完好 数字化展陈提升观展体验

A Warring States Period Qin tripod-shaped bronze lamp was unearthed in 1974 in Pingliang, Gansu province, an important part of the Silk Road. The lamp is now on display in the Gansu Provincial Museum due to its unique scientific and historic value.

▲ A Warring States Period Qin tripod-shaped bronze lamp on display at Gansu Provincial Museum. (PHOTO: Gansu Provincial Museum)

The bronze lamp has a diameter of 11.3 cm and stands 16.7 cm high when closed. It features a tripod structure with three legs, two opposing duck-head-shaped ears on the cover, keys atop the ears, and a central iron pillar.

To open the lamp, rotate the cap so the duck heads disengage from the double keys, then press down the keys and use a herringbone-shaped bracket to prop up the round cover. This transforms the lamp into an elevated fuel holder reaching 30.2 cm in height.

When closed, pressing the keys and rotating the duck heads locks the lid securely. Its tight seal prevents oil leakage—a testament to advanced ancient craftsmanship. Notably, residual muddy lamp oil remains inside the vessel, remarkably preserved after over 2,000 years.

Beyond its functional design, the artifact offers valuable insights into Silk Road cultural exchanges. With museum digitization efforts, visitors can now explore the lamp interactively via touch-screen displays.

Editor | SONG Ziyan
Supervisor | TIAN Xueke