Your
lamp is indeed of the 'Samaritan'
type and is authentic.
This
type of
lamp (
Adler S3) has been found in
Israel and Jordan, with a concentration in the
Samaria region (a large
area north of Jerusalem). The region was dominated by Samaritans but also inhabited by Jews, Christians and pagans.
Adler dates the S3
type to the late 3rd - 5th century AD but I would place most of them somewhat later and tend to agree more with the 6th - 7th century AD range proposed by Israeli & Avida. Your own example, with its comparatively coarse decoration, its undefined base and its extended flattish
handle, is undoubtedly in the latter date range, the
Byzantine period.
Although Levantine ("
Holy Land")
lamps have been extensively faked, it is relatively easy to distinguish them by the
style,
fabric,
patina and other details (usually even in a
good photograph). Your own
lamp is clearly genuine. Also, the repertoire of
fakes is large but ultimately limited and they become very familiar after a while; the
type of your
lamp is not among them.
http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/index.shtml
