A Byzantine moulded terracotta oil lamp, most commonly known as a slipper lamp, produced in the Holy Land. It features an oval body which would have tapered into a nozzle, the terminal of which is now chipped, due to age and wear. There is a large central filling hole surrounded by a raised ridge. The shoulders are decorated with raised lines and dots. A conical protrusion acts as a handle at the top of the lamp. The lamp sits on a ring base to the reverse. Earthly encrustations and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as surface pitting, chips, flaking, and scratches. Hairline cracks across the sides of the lamp. The Byzantine Empire existed as a continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces, meaning that the form of these oil lamps shows strong similarities to the Roman style. Christianity was the predominant religion in the Byzantine world, and this is reflected in the decoration of the lamp, which could have been used for either domestic or ceremonial purposes. Early Holy Land lamp decoration during the Byzantine period became more abstract, featuring lines, crosses, dots, and geometric shapes. Measurements: (circa) L 8.3cm x W 5.9cm Provenance: Ex Scottish collection, 1970s.