Lamp
Unknown Artist
2nd–6th century
Medium
Earthenware
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.1619
Art Historical Context
This humble earthenware lamp, crafted an unknown artist between the2nd and 6th centuries, offers a glimpse into the daily life of Late Antiquity in regions that would later flourish under Islamic culture. Classified as ceramics and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, it reflects the practical artistry of early Mediterranean and Near Eastern workshops. Lamps like this were indispensable for illumination, typically filled with oil and fitted with a wick, bridging the gap between utilitarian function and subtle aesthetic appeal. Earthenware, made from fired clay, w...