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Author Topic: miniature lead oil lamp  (Read 2721 times)

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Offline v-drome

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miniature lead oil lamp
« on: April 29, 2013, 12:09:03 am »
Here is something unusual.  I was not sure if I should put in Oil Lamps or Antiquities.  I have looked in the usual places for images but have not found any parallel.  It reminds me of the miniature lead amphoras that sometimes turn up.  Comments are welcome.  Thanks, V-drome
BCC L3
Lead Oil Lamp
Hollow Cast Miniature
Central disc with facing portrait (Helios or Medusa?)
Remnants of handle. Though it seems that the lamp
could have been functional, there is no evidence of carbon
on the object, as far as I can tell.
38.5mm.x20.0mm.x10.0mm. weight: 16.10gm.

Offline RoryduPondius

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Re: miniature lead oil lamp
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2013, 07:24:35 pm »
really cool odd item you got there ;D
I LOVE cleaning uncleaned ancients.

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: miniature lead oil lamp
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2013, 09:58:17 am »
It was probably held by a statue. 
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Strobilus

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Re: miniature lead oil lamp
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2013, 03:48:35 pm »
Miniature ancient lamps in pottery, bronze, lead, glass, etc. do occur but are unusual. I suspect most were for votive purposes and not necessarily functional.

The image attached shows two miniature lamps offered by a London auction house two years ago. The lead lamp on the left is a similar size to your own (3.8 cm) and probably similar in date: 1st - 2nd century AD. IF original, the face on yours is likely to represent Medusa.

palimpsest

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Re: miniature lead oil lamp
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2013, 03:01:10 pm »
 You can find group of miniature lamps in Museum of Byzantine culture in Thessaloniki at display, I guess  those were some kind of votive objects.

 

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