Ancient Near East, Holy Land, late Roman Imperial to early Byzantine Empire, ca. 4th to 6th century CE. A wonderful bronze oil lamp cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process and designed so that it could have hung from the original chains attached to three suspension loops - one above each of the three nozzles - or sit on its flat, bullseye-adorned base. The broad, triangular lamp has a tiered body, a sloped shoulder that tapers to form the corseted neck and flared rim meant to hold a lid, three funnel-form wick nozzles with thick rims, and stylized lion heads in low relief along each spout neck. The peripheries of the body without protruding spouts are adorned with low relief foliate motifs, and the entire lamp is enveloped with lustrous, mottled layers of brown, russet, and green patina. Size: 10.625" W x 2.75" H (27 cm x 7 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) with chains extended.

Some scholars have noted that bronze lamps, with their increased cost over pottery lamps, were most likely a type of heirloom, and were reserved for the richest households. Scholars believe that such bronze lamps remained in a family for at least three generations as they were coveted costly luxuries. Although metal lamps had a longer lifespan than lamps made of other materials, they were often melted down and reworked into other pieces. So having a complete example like this is rare.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired in December 2020; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-Janet Zakos collection, Switzerland, acquired in the 1990s

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#178911

Replacement to some chain links, with remains of original links on two larger suspension rings. Slight bending to overall form of some chain links, with minor nicks and abrasions to base, nozzles, shoulder, and central spout, softening to some low relief details, and light encrustations. Light earthen deposits and wonderful patina throughout.