The central decorative motif of this oil-lamp consists of a figure of a crowned lady seated upon a makara-like fish. This motif ranges among the most favourite themes which one encounters on East Javanese period oil-lamps. Many of thes are large and very elaborate.
The theme of a woman riding on a fish may have been based on the story of Sri Tanjung, such as is depicted on the fourteenth century Candi Surawana. It was probably not ment to relate a love-story. Its presence at the Srawana temple and its frequent occurence on large and elaborate oil-lamps suggests that the theme could have been used as a symbol of the deliverance or of the well-faring journey of the departed souls to the hereafter.

See illustration