Ancient Roman bronze Oil Lamp - 13.8 cm

Ancient Roman Bronze Oil Lamp

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 138 mm
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 671

The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman bronze oil lamp from a private collector, N.N.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This cast bronze oil lamp is a fine example of Roman domestic metalwork from the Imperial period. It features a rounded body with a large filling opening, a projecting nozzle for the wick, and a substantial loop handle, allowing it to be carried or suspended when in use. Bronze lamps of this quality were more expensive than their terracotta counterparts and were typically owned by wealthier households, public buildings, temples, or military officers.

Oil lamps were an indispensable part of daily life throughout the Roman Empire. Filled with olive oil and fitted with a linen or plant-fibre wick, they provided illumination in homes, workshops, baths, shrines, and military installations after sunset. Their reliable light extended the working day, enabled domestic activities during the evening, and played an important role in religious ceremonies and household worship.

Bronze lamps were produced in specialised workshops using established casting techniques and were often finished by hand before polishing. Their durable construction made them highly valued objects that could remain in use for many years and, when necessary, be repaired rather than discarded. Similar examples have been recovered from settlements, villas, forts, and urban centres across the Roman Empire, demonstrating the widespread distribution of Roman craftsmanship through extensive trade networks.

Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this lamp belongs to the height of the Roman Imperial period, when high-quality bronze household objects reflected both practical function and refined craftsmanship. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind illuminated everyday life and accompanied the daily routines of Roman households for generations.