Oil Lamp, green glazed, Islamic
Production date
Circa 11th Century-12th Century CE
Country
Egypt
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Object detail
Description
A Fatimid Islamic oil lamp with a long open spout, cylindrical neck, looped handle and spherical body, and a opaque turquoise glaze. The lip is flared and tapers to the base of the neck. There is a torus at the join with the body. The body itself is shaped like an oblate flattened sphere with a simple base attached, slightly concave. The lamp is glazed inside and out, except for the underside of the base and part of the lower portion of the body. The handle is a ring attached to the middle of the neck and top of the body with a seperate pad of ceramic. To one side of the handle is a seperate knob of ceramic. The single long open spout is attached opposite the handle and is wedge shaped in profile and rectangular from the top. The end of the spout is broken off. Body is without decorative elements. The glaze is transparent with patches of paler white or buff showing through. The fabric is buff to orange.
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING
Production date
Circa 11th Century-12th Century CE
Production place
Measurements
L86mm x W114mm x D74mm
Media/Materials description
Clay
Stone-paste (fritware)
glaze - turquoise, inside and out
Stone-paste (fritware)
glaze - turquoise, inside and out
History and use
The need to extend daylight hours has always been with us. Before the advent of electricity, illuminating a space was achieved with either a candle or a lamp.Oil lamps were a common find in the excavations at Fustat, said to have occurred in all excavation levels and working levels, with several thousand recovered.
Associated person
Registration number
E40831