Nepali Sakunda Ritual Lamp with Ganesh and 5 Headed Naga

The things you learn when researching family treasures! This heavy yet small piece is an oil lamp found in the homes of the indigenous Newar people of Kathmandu Valley, lit for cultural and religious events.
 
Oil is stored in the pot and ladled into the reservoir jutting out in front, where is a wick is placed and lit. The figure of Ganesh can be seen above the reservoir, with two guardian 'lions' on each side. A leaf or floral pattern is present in the reservoir as well. Attached to the handle is a figure of the Naga King with a five-headed Naga rising behind him. The base has interesting notches and patterns as well.
 
Comparables online range from $ 275-320. A near identical one comes with a description that explains the vessel represents the founding of civilization for the indigenous Newar people as Kathmandu Valley was formed from a lake (represented by the pot) which was home to serpent gods (represented by the Naga heads). The Lord Ganesha bestows positive energy on all. 
 
We believe this item was purchased in Nepal by our parents when they lived  there in 1966-1967.
 
Note:  The camera captured much more gold than is visible to the naked eye on this piece. A polishing may change all that, however. We have not tried polishing it as we were advised to let buyers discover the real prize underneath themselves.
 
Material is believed to be bronze.
H 6" x L 2 1/4" x D 6 1/2"
Weight: 1 lb 4 oz
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to identify what things are online when not obvious. We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.