Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleLamp

About this objectThis piece is typical of lamps produced in Cyprus in the Byzantine period. Although comparable in shape to Levantine counterparts, the distinctive pink clay, with no slip, pinpoints its origin. Its shape differs slightly from eastern versions in that it has two ridges around the filling hole and its base consists of a simple pear-shaped concavity.

The lamp fits within a series of lamps found in various parts of the island of Cyprus, and although no lamp from the same mould is known, it is close in decoration to examples found at Vasa and Ayios Philon. The area around the filling hole is sometimes left plain, or may be decorated with a cross or short radiating strokes, as in this example. The shoulder is usually decorated with radiating strokes, semi-circles and raised dots, or simple raised dot patterns.

Date MadeLate 6th-7th century CE

PeriodByzantine

Place MadeCyprus

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyByzantine

TechniqueMolding (forming)

MeasurementsLength 92mm; Width 77mm; Height (including lug) 36mm

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated, 2004

Object TypeLamp

Object number192.04