Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Finely carved ancient Roman marble oil lamp from the Holy Land. The lamp is worked from a single block of pale beige stone. The lamp has a smoothly rounded body with a deep, circular reservoir, gently recessed to hold oil. A short, elongated nozzle projects from the front, tapering to a flattened tip where the wick would have emerged. The underside is subtly shaped to allow the lamp to rest securely, while the overall form is elegant and well balanced. Size: ± 105,6 x 65 x 43 mm Condition: very fine condition. Carved from pale stone with natural banding and gentle veining with subtle chalky areas. Softly weathered surface and visible signs of wear, consistent with age and use. Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher. STONE AND MARBLE OIL LAMPS Although most ancient oil lamps were made of clay, stone and marble lamps form a distinct and more exclusive group, particularly during the Roman period. Rather than being mould-made, these lamps were hand-carved from solid blocks of stone such as marble or limestone, a process that required considerable skill and time. Their shapes generally follow the established Roman lamp form, with a recessed oil reservoir and a projecting nozzle for the wick, but they are typically plain and undecorated, relying on balanced proportions, smooth surfaces and visible tool marks rather than relief ornament. The choice of stone provided durability, heat resistance and stability, making such lamps suitable for long-term use. Stone and marble oil lamps are most often associated with Roman domestic, religious and funerary contexts. They were likely used in elite households, temples or as votive and burial objects, where the permanence of stone may have symbolised endurance and eternal light.