Small Greek Votive Oil Lamp

£ 55.00

A small Greek oil lamp featuring a circular shallow body with shoulders that rise up slightly. The centre displays an open basin and to the bottom is a short nozzle. The oil lamp sits on a raised foot.

This oil lamp resembles characteristics of Goldman group VIII

Date: Circa 2nd- early 1st Century BC
Provenance: From a specialist collection of Roman oil lamps formed by Robertson Brockie (deceased), all acquired before 2008 from a central London ADA gallery, Southport Lancashire.
Condition: Fine condition, some chips to the base and rim.

SOLD

SKU: LD-429 Category:

Oil lamps were a popular item in everyday life, practically, they provided light but were also used in sacred areas as votive offerings or placed in burials. The earliest forms of oil lamps consisted of a shallow dish with a wick placed inside. However, this became ill-suited as the oil would spill and there would be a loss of control over the wick. The lamp was developed to have a covered top which was later decorated with designs unlike early Greek lamps which were wheel made and left plain for convenience.

To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.

Weight 30.2 g
Dimensions L 5.3 x W 4.8 x H 2.3 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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