Ancient Roman, Empire Pottery Oil Lamp (No reserve price)
03
days
22
hours
51
minutes
30
seconds
Current bid
€ 60
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
27 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 2008 | €60 | |
|---|---|---|
 Bidder 4763 | €55 | |
| Bidder 2008 | €50 | |
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Ancient Roman terracotta oil lamp of pottery, circa 1st–3rd century AD, with a rounded form, broad shoulder and pronounced nozzle, rear handle with suspension hole, central filling hole, and a flat base; length about 97.7 mm, diameter about 57 mm, in fair condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
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.
Ancient Roman terracotta oil lamp, made in a compact, rounded form with a broad shoulder and a pronounced nozzle for the wick. The discus is slightly recessed and pierced with a central filling hole, surrounded by a raised rim. At the rear is a vertical handle with a pierced suspension hole, allowing the lamp to be hung or carried. The base is flat with a low, circular foot ring, providing stable placement on a surface. The filling hole, wick channel and handle aperture are all well defined, clearly illustrating the lamp’s original function.
Length: ± 97,7 mm
Diameter: ± 57 mm
Condition: fair condition. The surface shows the natural colour of the fired clay, with areas of wear and mineral accretions consistent with age and long-term deposition. Several ancient breaks, chips and losses are visible, but the overall form remains clear and structurally stable. No modern restoration is visible.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
Historical background
Oil lamps of this type were widely used throughout the Roman world for domestic lighting. Their practical design reflects everyday life in Roman households, workshops and public spaces, where such lamps provided illumination after dark using olive oil and a fibrous wick.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
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.
Ancient Roman terracotta oil lamp, made in a compact, rounded form with a broad shoulder and a pronounced nozzle for the wick. The discus is slightly recessed and pierced with a central filling hole, surrounded by a raised rim. At the rear is a vertical handle with a pierced suspension hole, allowing the lamp to be hung or carried. The base is flat with a low, circular foot ring, providing stable placement on a surface. The filling hole, wick channel and handle aperture are all well defined, clearly illustrating the lamp’s original function.
Length: ± 97,7 mm
Diameter: ± 57 mm
Condition: fair condition. The surface shows the natural colour of the fired clay, with areas of wear and mineral accretions consistent with age and long-term deposition. Several ancient breaks, chips and losses are visible, but the overall form remains clear and structurally stable. No modern restoration is visible.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
Historical background
Oil lamps of this type were widely used throughout the Roman world for domestic lighting. Their practical design reflects everyday life in Roman households, workshops and public spaces, where such lamps provided illumination after dark using olive oil and a fibrous wick.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/ Timeframe
1st-3rd century AD
Name of object
Oil Lamp
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2025
Material
Pottery
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Fair
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
