Holy Land Pottery Oil Lamp

Umayyad Empire, Early Byzantine Period, c. 600-700AD, Holy Land.

Magnificent, mold-made terracotta oil lamp featuring a round body and a prominent conical handle. To the top, the lamp displays a large filling-hole (discus) bordered with a raised rim, and a beautiful raised eight pointed star motif. The number eight frequently represents beginnings, resurrection, salvation etc. This has to do, in part, with the fact that the number seven is a number of completion. The eight day, for example, is the first day of a new seven-day week, and a Jewish child enters into God's Covenant on eight day of life via circumcision. The reverse remains unadorned, with the exception of a circular base ring forming an raised eight-spoked wheel.

Small-sized earthenware oil lamps, made from double molds, were used in temples, churches, synagogues, and mosques but were also one of the most essential household appliances in antiquity. A wick produced from plant fiber or linen fabric was placed in a reservoir filled with oil, generally castor or sesame oil, and illuminated. Throughout the Holy Land and its neighbouring regions, clay lamps were frequently decorated with motifs and symbols of various kinds, often religious. Holy Land lamps, such as this excellent example, have mostly been recovered in Khirbet el-Mefjer near Ain el-Sultan, Jericho. They appeared at the beginning of the 7th century AD and became widespread during the Umayyad Empire (c. 661-750 AD), marking profound changes to the local material culture brought by the Moslem conquest of the region. 

Excellent condition. Extremely well-preserved with light deposits. Nozzle had even traces of soot. Small chip in the handle. Gorgeous patina. Size approx. 8,0cm x 8,2cm x 4,2cm.

Provenance: Danish private collection. 

For a similar examples see:

Lamp, The British Museum, Accession Number: OA+.13900 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_OA-13900)

References and further reading:

Light and Life: Ancient Christian Oil Lamps of the Holyland (Studium Biblicum S.) Stanislao Loffreda, Franciscan Printing Press, 2001.