Dimensions: 3 ¼ inches long, 2 inches wide, 1 inch tall, weighs 65 grams. Provenance: Ex. Private collection, bought via London art market, formerly in a 1970s/80s Swiss collection. Ex. Palmyra Heritage Fine Arts Gallery, Downtown Manhattan, New York City, 2025. Acquired by The Artifact City Collection in September 2025. Description: Terracotta oil lamp made from a two-part mold. Oil from animal fat or olives were used with a wick to provide lighting. Oil lamps were mass produced in large quantities throughout the Holy Land and surrounding areas. Their use was significant in both Jewish and early Christian religious ceremonies. They were the equivalent of today’s “light bulbs”.
