Ancient Roman Oil Lamp with Torque-Shaped Motif (No reserve price)
13
days
08
hours
19
minutes
10
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €1 |
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This Ancient Roman oil lamp with a torque-shaped motif dates to the 4th–6th century AD and is a Late Roman mould-made red-slip lamp produced in North Africa.
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.
Late Roman mould-made red-slip oil lamp, produced in North Africa. The lamp has an elongated oval body, broad rounded nozzle with a large wick hole, and a tall lug handle.
The discus is pierced by two filling holes and a raised decoration apparently representing an open torque or neck ring with large terminals. The underside is plain and incorporates a raised circular base ring. The reddish clay is covered with remains of its original red slip.
Size: ± 125 x 88.5 mm
Condition: good solid condition. Surface wear and abrasions to the original red slip, with areas of mineral encrustations. Minor chips and age-related surface marks are present.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
During Late Antiquity, workshops in Roman North Africa, particularly in the region of present-day Tunisia, became major producers of fine red-slip pottery and mould-made oil lamps. These lamps were traded extensively throughout the Mediterranean.
African Red Slip lamps are often characterised by their elongated bodies, solid projecting handles, two filling holes and moulded shoulder decoration. Their imagery ranged from geometric and vegetal ornaments to animals, mythological subjects and Christian symbols. The apparent torque-shaped motif on this example is unusual and should be regarded as a cautious interpretation rather than a firmly identified design.
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.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* 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.
Late Roman mould-made red-slip oil lamp, produced in North Africa. The lamp has an elongated oval body, broad rounded nozzle with a large wick hole, and a tall lug handle.
The discus is pierced by two filling holes and a raised decoration apparently representing an open torque or neck ring with large terminals. The underside is plain and incorporates a raised circular base ring. The reddish clay is covered with remains of its original red slip.
Size: ± 125 x 88.5 mm
Condition: good solid condition. Surface wear and abrasions to the original red slip, with areas of mineral encrustations. Minor chips and age-related surface marks are present.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
During Late Antiquity, workshops in Roman North Africa, particularly in the region of present-day Tunisia, became major producers of fine red-slip pottery and mould-made oil lamps. These lamps were traded extensively throughout the Mediterranean.
African Red Slip lamps are often characterised by their elongated bodies, solid projecting handles, two filling holes and moulded shoulder decoration. Their imagery ranged from geometric and vegetal ornaments to animals, mythological subjects and Christian symbols. The apparent torque-shaped motif on this example is unusual and should be regarded as a cautious interpretation rather than a firmly identified design.
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.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* 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
Century/timeframe
4th-6th century AD
Name of object
Oil Lamp with Torque-Shaped Motif
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
