Hellenistic Ptolemaic Period Pottery Oil Lamp

Hellenistic Period, Ptolemaic Dynasty, c. 300–100 BC, Naukratis, Egypt

A lovely, though chipped, mold-made grey-ware pottery oil lamp from the vibrant Greco-Egyptian cultural crossroads of Naukratis. Crafted during the Ptolemaic dynasty, this piece reflects the fusion of Hellenistic aesthetics with Egyptian craftsmanship.

The lamp features a globular body that gently curves inward toward a rounded shoulder, culminating in a sloping rim encircling a small central filling hole. A neatly raised ridge frames this opening, emphasizing the vessel’s careful symmetry and design. A short, flat-topped nozzle extends from the body, ending in a rounded tip with an oval wick hole—traits aligned with Howland Type 25 lamps. A vertically pierced lug handle on the side adds both utility and visual balance. The lamp rests on a sharply defined base with a slightly concave disc foot.

Composed of grey, reduced Nile silt fabric and coated in a dark, almost metallic slip, the surface bears the hallmarks of Nile Valley ceramic tradition—subtly burnished, compact, and elegantly proportioned. It showcases the synthesis of local materials and Hellenistic forms that flourished under the Ptolemaic regime.

Oil lamps like this one were ubiquitous in both domestic life and ritual practice, illuminating homes, workshops, and temples. This piece—modest yet refined—embodies the hybrid visual language of Ptolemaic Egypt, offering a tangible connection to a world where Greek and Egyptian identities mingled through trade, art, and everyday life.

Good condition. Intact. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, nicks and chips, with encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits throughout. Nozzle had even traces of soot. Size approx. 10,5cm x 7,8cm x 3,2cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection.

For a similar example see:

Oil-lamp, The British Museum, Accession Number: 1987.291                                      (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/X__2184)