Roman Bronze Double Spouted Oil Lamp

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A beautifully symmetrical cast bronze oil lamp featuring two delicate projecting spouts with crescent forms between them and to their sides. The body is a flattened sphere, with a short, round rim encircling its fill hole in the center. The handle is a simple ring with an arrow shape through its upper part. Size: 3.25" W x 1.35" H (8.3 cm x 3.4 cm); 4.3" H (10.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Despite the prevalence of terracotta lamps, bronze oil lamps are among some of the rarest artifacts to come from the Roman Empire. Their scarcity, however, is a reminder of how everyday life would have been for the people who used them. Bronze examples like this were only affordable to upper class households due to the inherent cost and time associated with the processing, refinement, and ultimately casting of bronze. This particular example is much finer than the average, with its meticulous attention to detail and sturdy composition, and was probably created for and belonged to a member of the Roman elite who would have passed it down as a family heirloom.

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

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#151327
Condition Report: Intact with beautifully preserved form and details. Smooth, mottled dark green and black patina on surface. Handle slightly bent to one side.