LAMP

Description: THE LAMP IS A LIGHT GREY COLOR (THE COLOR OF SOAP STONE), AND HAS A DISTINCTIVELY JAPANESE LOOK TO IT'S DESIGN - LIKE A PAGODA, IT HAS AN ARCHED ROOF. WHEN THE TOP IS REMOVED, THE LIGHT BULB IS CLEARLY VISIBLE, AS IS THE BASIC SHAPE OF THE STAND, WHICH IS A HEXAGON. THERE ARE NO DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS ON THE ARTIFACT. THERE IS A LONG DARK GREY ELECTRICAL CORD EXTENDING FROM THE BASE.

History: GIFT FROM JAPAN DURING AN OFFICIAL VISIT. ACCORDING TO S.E. ASIAN CUSTOMS, IT IS REQUIRED THAT DURING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ANOTHER AREA, A GIFT IS BROUGHT TO THE HOST COUNTRY. THIS IS ONE OF THESE GIFTS FROM JAPAN. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE INITIALLY GIVEN TO THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE THROUGH VARIOUS EXCHANGES WITH CITIES IN JAPAN. LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLES FROM 1992, 1997, AND 1998 DETAIL THREE SEPERATE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITH HIKARI, SEKI CITY, AND KUROHONE-MURA, JAPAN. LETHBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL DECLINED HIKARI'S OFFER OF AN OFFICIAL TWINNING ARRANGMENT IN 1992 DUE TO BUDGET LIMITATIONS AND BECAUSE OF PRIOR TWINNING WITH OTHER CITIES INCLUDING SAINT-LAURENT, QUEBEC, CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, AND HENGSHUI CITY, CHINA. ST. FRANCIS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL RAN A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM WITH SEKI CITY FROM 1993 TO 2003 AND LETHBRIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOSTED STUDENTS FROM THE VILLAGE OF KURHONE ANNUALLY FROM 1994 TO 2006. DURING THESE EXCHANGES, DELEGATES FROM THE JAPANESE CITIES REGULARLY MET WITH LETHBRIDGE MAYOR DAVID CARPENTER AND GAVE CEREMONIAL GIFTS, AS IS CUSTOM IN JAPAN. SEE PERMANENT FILE P19980048017 FOR HARDCOPIES OF SOURCE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.