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Reproduction Ancient Oil Lamps
Roman North Africa
The replica ancient oil
lamps in this section represent clay lamp styles used in Roman North
Africa. A major lamp production center of this region was Tunisia, and
many come from the area around Carthage. This is also the region where
the majority of ancient lamp moulds are now recovered, thanks to the
climatic conditions. These lamps
are
molded directly from originals, or styled after original lamps of the
period. These lamps hold the most olive oil of any clay lamps I
presently make.
Sales will resume in 2024.
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MARIAMME
Circa 5th Century AD
Large numbers of
lamps with the typical "North African"
style
were made
in workshops along the Mediterranean coast of Africa in the 5th Century
AD. Tunisia and Carthage were probably the center of the trade,
although
some evidence now suggests Alexandria, Egypt may also have been a major
production center in North Africa.
Molded directly from an
original.
(4.5" by
3")
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ALEXANDRIA
Circa 5th Century AD
This example
features the monogram
"XPI", which
is a Greek monogram of "Christ", and was probably at least as common as
the symbol of the cross itself for many centuries. The body was molded
directly from an original, the discus design is a reconstruction.
(4.5" by 3")
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CARTHAGE
Circa 5th Century AD
Another North
African style, this
features a running
lion on the discus. Animals were popular subjects on the lamps, and
many
employed very similar decorative motifs as had the earlier Roman
lamps. The body was
molded directly from an original, the discus design is a
reconstruction.
(4.5" by 3")
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POMARIA
Circa 5th
Century AD
A palm stands as
the central
decoration
on this
Roman North African styled lamp.
The body was
molded directly from an original, the discus design is a
reconstruction.
(4.5" by 3")
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 TACAPE
Circa 5th Century AD
A common Christian
symbol, a fish,
ornaments this
Roman North African style lamp. The body was molded directly from an
original, the discus design is a reconstruction.
(4.5" by 3")
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MAURETANIA
Circa 5th Century AD
A variant of the
XPI above, this
lamp
has a Christian
cross with a hint of the Chi-Rho monogram still apparent. The body was molded directly from an
original, the discus design is a reconstruction.
(4.5" by 3")
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