Lamp

7th–8th century

Not on view

The shallow open lamps previously used in the Middle East were replaced by deeper pinched bowls, imported from Greece in Hellenistic times. However, the low-relief decoration and green or honey-colored glazes are characteristic of the Roman pottery tradition. These lamps burned olive oil through a fiber wick.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Lamp
Date: 7th–8th century
Geography: Attributed to Syria
Medium: Earthenware; molded
Dimensions: H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
L. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm)
W. 2.75 in. (7 cm)
Classification: Ceramics
Credit Line: Gift of Miriam Schaar Schloessinger, 1961
Object Number: 61.150.5
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Bowl, Glass, yellowish; blown, applied disk foot, applied rim, blown applied decoration, applied blue decoration — Bowl
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Quadruped Oil Lamp, Earthenware; applied, incised, cut, glazed — Quadruped Oil Lamp
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Vessel with Pierced Designs, Bronze; pierced and chased — Vessel with Pierced Designs
ca. 700

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