Lampa oliwna. Brąz. Persja. XII wiek.

I have never been a fan of oil lamps. It never occurred to me to collect them. In this case, I was captivated by its shape. The fact that it seems to be setting off on a long journey. With its feet shod in fancy boots. (Incidentally, it is a great pity that the third leg has not been preserved).

I perceive all objects primarily through their form. I see them as a kind of sculpture, even if they are only functional objects. In this case, there is also color. A beautiful green patina shimmering with many shades.

The oil lamp is the first source of light after the fire and the torch, which, and here I am not afraid of a lofty statement, contributed to the development of humanity.

The first lamp was probably made from a shell or a concave stone filled with animal fat. The first lamps found by archaeologists are shaped like shells. The lamp evolved over the centuries. It was made of glass, ceramic, iron, bronze, and even silver and gold. It was sometimes complicated, with a nozzle, a double reservoir, and multiple wicks. It took the form of animals, people, birds, or fancy geometric shapes. The primary fuel was olive oil.

I had trouble dating the one I once bought in Paris. I am sure that it is very old. This was confirmed by collectors familiar with archaeology. Initially, I thought that the lamp was Byzantine and dated back to the 6th-7th century AD, due to the very similar decorations on the cover separating the reservoir from the handle. Then I found an oil lamp with a container of exactly the same shape, very similar legs, and only a slightly poorer cover. The lamp at the Skinner auction in Boston was described as Persian and dated to the 12th century. I trust the experts and have determined the origin of my lamp in the same way. The lamp is simple, "poor," with an open reservoir and no distinct wick socket. There are far fewer of these lamps for sale.

The lamp is missing part of one leg and the corner of the cover has been repaired. The hole in the leg was used to make a display holder, which I personally like, but it is easy to remove. The lamp, including the handle, is 22 cm long, 17 cm high, and 9 cm wide. It stands on a square plywood base with sides 18 cm long. The lamp with the base is 26 cm high.