The earliest oil lamps made from clay can be dated back to the Bronze Age, to around the sixteenth century BC and by the Roman period, oil lamps, or lychnus, from the Greek λυχνος, were commonplace throughout the Empire. They were used for domestic, public, and religious purposes, including funeral ceremonies, lighting up businesses, and creating ‘special effects’ at the theatre. The oldest Roman lamps date back to the third century BC, and it is thought that they were influenced by the Southern Italic style. These were more enclosed than their predecessors, allowing for further decoration on the discus. The vast trade networks set with the expansion of the Roman Empire allowed this item to be spread across Europe, Eastern Asia and Northern Africa, which led to the development of several provincial variations.
Small Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp
£ 150.00
A fine roman terracotta oil lamp with an elegant elongated neck. The sloping shoulder is separated from the concave discus with a central filling-hole by a ridge. Two symmetrically placed lugs decorate the shoulder slightly below the middle of the lamp. A deep triangular groove is located beneath the discus pointing towards the wider nozzle hole. The lamp has a flat base, decorated with a single circular groove. The surface displays residue of a brighter red glaze, now largely gone.
Provenance: From the collection of W.D. (deceased), Scotland, UK.
Condition: Very fine condition. A short stable crack under one of the lugs. Remnants of a red glaze. Earthly encrustation to the surface.
SOLD
| Weight | 39.1 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | W 7.6 x H 5.2 cm |
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| Pottery and Porcelain | |
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