Oil lamp fake?

[pierre_p77]

Can anyone say if this part of an oil lamp are fake? The area where it is broken looks very fresh to me, as if it was recently made.

Best regards
Pierre

[wandigeaux (1940 - 2010)]

Or recently broken.  George S.

[pierre_p77]

Yes I was thinking about that too, but if you breake ancient pottery, does it look that new-made??

[wandigeaux (1940 - 2010)]

I think it would; maybe I'll go out and break some and find out  George S.

[diyapolis]

seems to be fresh, but a quality lamp.
There are even fake beautiful craftsmanship.
as if no fire in the unburned.
best regards.

[pierre_p77]

Seems to be hard to tell?

George, you better go out and break some, there really is nothing like empiricall science 

[Philoromaos]

If the lamp is glazed, as it looks in the pictures, I don't see why it couldn't look fresh inside if recently broken as nothing would be able to leech into the clay to discolour it.

Adrian

[areich]

I would simply contact a dealer, someone that's close to the source or just deals with a lot of these and can be expected to have broken one or two lamps in his time. He could tell you what lamps like these look like when they're freshly broken.

[Strobilus]

This lamp is a modern reproduction. The style appears to be roughly based on Firmalampen but the fabric, glaze and details are wrong.

[pierre_p77]

Thanks for all the replys!!

Strobilus, you seem to be sure? And I can´t say that I´m suprised.

[Strobilus]

Strobilus, you seem to be sure?

I'm afraid so, Pierre. Just the glaze alone is a giveaway. I believe ancient Firmalampen were very occasionally glazed but the glaze on your lamp is very different to the vitreous lead glaze used during the Roman period.

Also, from what I can see of the clay, your lamp appears to be a modern high-fired ceramic (fired at a much higher kiln temperature than ancient Roman pottery).

I suspect your lamp is a museum reproduction, not a fake intended to fool, but a usable souvenir that could be lit. The interior glaze is functional (to prevent oil leakage) while the exterior glaze has been artificially 'aged' to give it an olde worlde look.

BTW, you might find my website of interest: http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/

[pierre_p77]

Anyway it´s good to know, so thank you again. The item was given to me from my father who got it from this guy who actuallay runs a small private museum.