Roman Bronze Three-Nozzle Oil Lamp w/ Chain
Roman, early Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A beautiful bronze oil lamp cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process and designed so that it could hang from the original chains attached to three pierced suspension tabs - one above each of the three nozzles - or sit on its flared foot. The scallop shell/spade-shaped nozzles are equidistantly placed around a central boss with concentric circles surrounding the protruding fill hole. Three chains rise from loops attached to the suspension tabs and meet at a central suspension loop. On top, around the lamp's outer perimeter is a raised decorative edge. A lamp like this, made of bronze and with multiple nozzles which burned more fuel, was costly and likely served as a status symbol for a wealthy family. Size: 7.5" W x 12.875" H (19 cm x 32.7 cm).
Some scholars have noted that bronze lamps, with their increased cost over pottery lamps, were most likely a type of heirloom, and were reserved for the richest households. Scholars believe that such bronze lamps remained in a family for at least three generations as they were coveted costly luxuries. Although metal lamps had a longer lifespan than lamps made of other materials, they were often melted down and reworked into other pieces. So having a complete example like this is rare.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#137158
Condition Report: Repair to small exterior area of one nozzle, minor abrasions to lamp and foot, with slight bending to some chain links and suspension tabs, small nicks to top of lamp, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits as well as fabulous green and brown patina throughout.
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Roman, early Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A beautiful bronze oil lamp cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process and designed so that it could hang from the original chains attached to three pierced suspension tabs - one above each of the three nozzles - or sit on its flared foot. The scallop shell/spade-shaped nozzles are equidistantly placed around a central boss with concentric circles surrounding the protruding fill hole. Three chains rise from loops attached to the suspension tabs and meet at a central suspension loop. On top, around the lamp's outer perimeter is a raised decorative edge. A lamp like this, made of bronze and with multiple nozzles which burned more fuel, was costly and likely served as a status symbol for a wealthy family. Size: 7.5" W x 12.875" H (19 cm x 32.7 cm).
Some scholars have noted that bronze lamps, with their increased cost over pottery lamps, were most likely a type of heirloom, and were reserved for the richest households. Scholars believe that such bronze lamps remained in a family for at least three generations as they were coveted costly luxuries. Although metal lamps had a longer lifespan than lamps made of other materials, they were often melted down and reworked into other pieces. So having a complete example like this is rare.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#137158
Condition Report: Repair to small exterior area of one nozzle, minor abrasions to lamp and foot, with slight bending to some chain links and suspension tabs, small nicks to top of lamp, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits as well as fabulous green and brown patina throughout.
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