Late Ptolemaic Egyptian Terracotta Oil Lamp

150-50 BC, Late Ptolemaic Period

€ 250.00 VAT margin scheme

Article code: 23-4848

Ancient Egyptian mould-made terracotta oil lamp with a circular bowl, a long flat-topped nozzle and a broad circular base. The shoulder is decorated with a distinctive arrangement of radiating bars and stylised geometric motifs. A raised concentric collar surrounds the central filling hole. Rare type.

Size: ± 97.2 × 63.6 mm

Weight: ± 62.82 g

Good solid condition and complete. The relief decoration is partly worn. Clear traces of ancient use and dark discolouration are visible around the wick hole. Surface wear and deposits consistent with age and use.

Reference type: the form is closely related to Cahn-Klaiber type 3.1.6, characteristic of Egyptian lamp production during the late Ptolemaic period.

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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, Egyptian
Category	Artefacts
Material	Pottery, Terracotta
Country	Ancient Egypt

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Articles

Late Ptolemaic Egyptian Terracotta Oil Lamp

150-50 BC, Late Ptolemaic Period

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