Lot 2787
Important Judaic Ceramic Lamp with Menorah Motifs. Arab-Byzantine Era Palestine, c. 7th-9th century. Rare and noteworthy. So-called "slipper" lamp, for its shape, is molded in two pieces in a red-orange terra cotta. The underside of the lamp plain, the shoulders ornamented, a plain trough-like channel connects the wick and filling holes. As typical of this class, the decorative motifs are symmetrically placed: towards the nozzel, a long palm branch; at the knob handle a small tree or branch. Flanking these on either side are two menorahs, plus rectangular grids, suggesting walls or panels. The lamp virtually pristine, with thin, cleanable calcerous patina. Length: 3-1/2".
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.
Usually in this class of lamps, menorah-like motifs are found but are very crude, and can with equal likelihood depict tree or floral subjects, rather than the menorahs as some attest them to be. On the above lamp, however, the menorahs are clear and explicit. In fact, two varieties are shown. One, the normal type with six arms flanking the central arm, is as expected. However, the second, without a doubt shows eight arms and is thus a Hannukah lamp! Taken overall, the motifs around the lamp's shoulders can be considered an emblematic representation of a synagogue or temple. And so, an important object of early Judaica.
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| Realized $2,013 |
