Roman Brass Oil Lamp | Hinged Lid and Knop Finial, Long Nozzle

Roman, Imperial period. A cast leaded brass oil lamp of classic Roman form, the rounded body tapering forward into a long nozzle with a broad wick hole. The filling hole is closed by a domed, hinged cover topped with a turned knop finial, still moving on its original pin. Hinged covers were one of the refinements that set metal lamps apart from mass-produced ceramic ones. The body rests on a low disc foot, and the shoulder is plain, without a loop or suspension ring, so the lamp was made to stand on a table or shelf rather than hang. Metal lamps occupied the upper register of Roman lighting. Where terracotta examples were pressed by the thousand in two-part molds and discarded when their nozzles burned through, cast examples were repairable, refillable, and often fitted with hinged covers, chain attachments, and cast handles in the form of crescents, palmettes, or animal heads. They appear in domestic shrines, better dining rooms, and military contexts across the Empire, and they survive in far smaller numbers because broken or worn metal was routinely returned to the crucible. The hinged discus cover served a practical end: it kept dust and insects out of the oil reservoir and slowed evaporation, while the finial gave the fingers something to grip when the body itself was hot. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 204622

Estimate:$225

View all items fromArtemis Fine ArtsorEthnographic