Early Herodian Period; c. 37 B.C.-70 A.D.

A unique Herodian black clay oil lamp with two voluted nozzles, a large central fill hole, a flat bottom and a ring handle. Foliate decoration on the shoulders of the vessel. Natural patina present. In very good and original condition. Found in the Holy Land.

3.8 x 3.2 inches (9.65 x 8.128 cms)

Plexiglas stand, worldwide shipping and Certificate of Authenticity included in price.

Export Approval from Israel Antiquities Authority.

Bibliography:
Joan Goodnick Westenholz, ed., “Let There Be Light – Oil-Lamps from the Holy Land”, (Bible Lands Museum, 2004).
Stanislau Loffreda, “Holy Land Pottery at the Time of Jesus”, (Franciscan Press, 2001).

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Known as the Herodian because of its widespread use during the reign of Herod the Great in Israel(circa 37 BC to 4 BC), this lamp was wheelmade with the spout applied by hand. Thus, every Herodian lamp is slightly different. The type remained in use up to about AD 150 in some parts of the Holy Land, but is normally considered to have gone out of general use by AD 70. Although mainly confined to the Jerusalem area, they have also been found at Herodian, Masada, and other Jewish settlements in the region.

This particular example is referred to as a black clay example because it was fired in a reducing environment (an environment without oxygen) to produce the black exterior seen here.

Antiquities