ITEM: Oil lamp, Type Waage 60a
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Islamic
PERIOD: 7th - 8th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 45 mm x 90 mm x 107 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, handle repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex Emeritus collection (USA), collected from the 1950’s to the 1980’s by a distinguished university professor who served as Department head, Dean and Vice President of a major university.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Islamic oil lamps from the 7th and 8th centuries are notable for their functionality as well as their artistic and cultural significance during the early Islamic period. These lamps were typically made from materials such as ceramic, bronze, or glass and were used to provide light in both domestic and public spaces. The design of early Islamic oil lamps often featured a simple, functional shape with a bowl-like reservoir for oil and a spout or nozzle from which the light would emerge. The spout was usually fitted with a wick made from materials like flax or cotton.

The 7th and 8th centuries mark the period of early Islamic art and craftsmanship, which began to develop distinctive styles influenced by a blend of pre-Islamic traditions and emerging Islamic aesthetic principles. Early Islamic oil lamps from this era often exhibit geometric patterns, arabesques, and calligraphic inscriptions, reflecting the Islamic emphasis on aniconism and abstract decoration. While these lamps were functional objects, they were also carefully crafted to serve as beautiful and symbolically rich items. The use of geometric patterns and intricate designs on these lamps was both an expression of artistic skill and a reflection of the broader Islamic cultural context, where art often avoided figural representation.

The production of Islamic oil lamps during the 7th and 8th centuries was closely tied to the burgeoning trade networks and the flourishing of Islamic urban centers. The widespread use of these lamps across various regions of the Islamic world, from Spain to Persia, underscores their significance in daily life and the cultural exchanges facilitated by trade. Archaeological finds of these lamps provide valuable insights into the material culture of the early Islamic period, revealing the importance of lighting technology in domestic life and the ways in which artistic practices were integrated into everyday objects. The study of these oil lamps highlights both the practical innovations and the aesthetic developments of the time, offering a window into the early Islamic era’s domestic and artistic practices.