Description
Heading: Roman Oil Lamp 1stC AD
Material: Clay, terracotta
Period: Roman Imperial
Date: 1st century AD
Origin: Europe, Mediterranean basin to Holy Land regions
Condition: VF+
Description: A moulded terracotta clay lamp with a looped handle and decorated with side protrusions; the base is flat.
Size and Weight: 91mm x 55mm x 37mm, 60g
Features and Provenance: Ex Apollo auctions, previously from London collection accumulated from the UK and European art markets of the 1980s.
Light was integral for security. work. ceremony and travel when the sun went down. Oil and animal fats were the only suitable resources for lamps and olive and fish oil, in particular, were plentiful. A wick was coiled into the body of the lamp that had been filled. the wick soaked up the oil and the wick protruded through the side hole and was lit. Lamps were made by pressing clay into a mould and then fixing the two halves together. Early production line factories were developed to make lamps such was the demand. Depictions of heroic acts, military themes, games and deities were common favourite motifs on later Roman lamps.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of pattern etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of pattern etc present. but may be worn
Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible
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