Ancient Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Grapevines

Late 1st to 2nd century AD

€ 275.00 VAT margin scheme

Article code: 23-4849

Ancient Roman, eastern Mediterranean mould-made terracotta oil lamp. The deep circular body has a broad sloping shoulder decorated with scrolling grapevines, leaves and bunches of grapes in high relief. The plain discus has a central filling hole surrounded by concentric moulded ridges and is connected to the short round-tipped nozzle by a narrow channel.

The lamp has an upright solid handle decorated with vertical grooves. The base is marked by a double grooved circle with an undefined mark. Remnants of the original reddish slip remain visible.

Size: ± 107.6 × 74.4 mm

Weight: ± 65.99 g

Good solid condition and complete. Surface wear, deposits and minor edge wear consistent with age and use. The relief decoration remains clearly visible. Dark use-related discolouration is present around the wick hole.

Reference type: Loeschcke type VIII, eastern variant

Grapevines and grapes were associated with wine, abundance and the Dionysian sphere, although they were also widely used as decorative motifs on Roman domestic objects.

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Clay lamps were first developed in the Bronze Age, initially designed as open bowl-like vessels. Over time, they evolved into more enclosed forms to prevent oil spills and were crafted using various methods: hand moulding, wheel throwing, and mould production.

The use of moulds for lamp-making became prominent during the Hellenistic period (323–31 BCE). Lamps were typically created with two-piece moulds, forming the lamp's upper and lower sections. The top mould often included intricate relief designs that were imprinted onto the clay. This method sped up production and also allowed to add more decoration to the surface of the clay.

Oil lamps were particularly popular in the Mediterranean region, where olive oil was abundant and served as an efficient fuel source. Other plant-based oils and animal fats may also have been used. To light the lamps, wicks made from materials like plant fibers, papyrus, or linen were inserted.

Beyond domestic use, oil lamps illuminated various settings. They were essential at Roman festivals, in the vast interiors of temples and religious sanctuaries, and in dark spaces like catacombs. In ancient Rome, lamps were sometimes offered as votive gifts to deities. Additionally, they served as grave goods in tombs, symbolizing light for the afterlife.

Late Roman-Early Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamp from the Holy Land

Features and Specifications

Period	Ancient, Roman
Category	Artefacts
Material	Pottery, Terracotta
Country	Roman Empire

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