Terracotta oil lamp
Unknown Artist
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
Overall: 2 1/4 x 5 5/8 in. (5.7 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
Roman · Early Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.2065
Art Historical Context
This unassuming terracotta oil lamp dating to the 1st century BCE–1st CE, offers a glimpse into the everyday world Early Imperial Rome. Measuring just 2¼ x 5⅝ inches (5.7 x 14.3 cm), it exemplifies the practical artistry of Roman terracottas—molded clay objects fired at high temperatures for durability and affordability. Produced in workshops across the empire, such lamps were essential household items, fueled by olive oil and a wick to provide soft, flickering light in homes, workshops, and public spaces long before modern electricity. Terracotta's versatility made it ideal for mass producti...