Late Roman / Byzantine Bronze Oil Lamp w/ Leaf Handle

Ancient Near East, Holy Land, late Roman Imperial period to early Byzantine Empire, ca. late 4th to 7th century CE. A beautiful cast-bronze oil lamp with a protruding ring base, a circular body with a rounded shoulder, a bullseye-style tondo surrounding a petite fill hole, a leafy handle with a miniscule hinge loop for a lid, a narrow semicircular handle on the verso, and a projecting wick spout with concave side walls. Gorgeous layers of mottled green and brown patina have formed across the lamp. Size: 4.9" L x 2.6" W x 3" H (12.4 cm x 6.6 cm x 7.6 cm).

Some scholars have noted that bronze lamps, with their increased cost over pottery lamps, were most likely a kind of heirloom, and were also probably reserved for the richest households. Bronze lamps, which have been theorized to remain in a family for at least three generations because of their expense before being recast could also have additions added to them - like crosses or new lids - to suit changing styles. This particular type of lamp proved popular and several production centers for the style arose; ultimately they were distributed widely throughout the Eastern Roman Empire, reaching Asia Minor, Morocco, and even Central Europe.

Provenance: private Zaveloff collection, Lakewood, New Jersey, USA, acquired in 2002 from Venus Gallery, Israel

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#151330
Condition Report: Original tondo lid missing. Small losses to top of leaf handle as shown. Minor abrasions to base, body, handle, and wick spout, with softening to some finer details, slight bending to tondo lid loop, and light encrustations. Great earthen deposits and fabulous patina throughout.