ITEM: Oil lamp MATERIAL: Pottery CULTURE: Byzantine PERIOD: 5th - 7th Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 30 mm x 75 mm x 80 mm CONDITION: Repaired PROVENANCE: Ex American private collection, acquired between 1960 - 1970 The Byzantine oil lamp (c. 4th–15th century CE) represents a distinct evolution in ancient lighting technology, transitioning away from the highly ornate, classical Roman prototypes toward more streamlined, mass-produced forms. Typically crafted from terracotta, bronze, or glass, these lamps were essential for illuminating both humble domestic spaces and expansive ecclesiastical interiors. The standard Byzantine clay lamp was mold-made, featuring a low, slipper-shaped or oval body, a central filling hole, a short nozzle for the wick, and a small loop or knob handle. As the empire solidified its identity, regional workshops across the Levant, Egypt, and North Africa developed specialized variants—such as the prominent "slipper" and "candlestick" types—optimized for efficient oil consumption and rapid manufacture. The iconography of Byzantine lamps offers a vivid reflection of the empire's profound religious shift from paganism to Christianity. The decorative discs (discoi) and shoulders of the lamps became primary surfaces for expressing faith, frequently adorned with mold-made Christian symbols such as the crux gemmata (gemmed cross), the Chi-Rho monogram, and the menorah in Jewish-Byzantine communities. Animal motifs carrying allegorical weight, including fish, peacocks, and doves, were also widely utilized. For wealthier settings, cast bronze lamps often featured elaborate handles shaped like crosses or griffin heads, designed to be suspended from the ceilings of churches and palaces via intricate chain mechanisms (polycandela), creating a sacred, transformative atmosphere of light. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.