Oil Lamp. Late Roman/Early Byzantine, 4th-6th century AD. Terracotta. 12 cm length. PROVENANCE: Private collection, V. Z., Netherlands, 1950 - 1980. CONDITION: Good condition. DESCRIPTION: Ancient Roman lamps were small utensils, normally made from terracotta, which were used by the ancient Romans to provide artificial light. They were fuelled by olive oil and had from one to a dozen wicks. Some had handles so they could be moved easily from one room to another. They could also be carried by participants in ritual activities or by actors in plays. Lamps could be decorated with erotic scenes, with gladiators, mythological figures and floral motifs. They were turned out en masse using moulds rather than being hand crafted. Notes: The piece includes authenticity certificate. The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) - If the piece is destined outside the European Union a substitution of the export permit should be requested. This process could take between 1 and 2 weeks.