Posts: 577
Threads: 42
Joined: Mar 2005
Reputation:
0
I have a collection of reproduction Roman oil lamps. Looking at them I can't help but think they would have been painted. They just look unfinished to me.
Does anyone know if there is any evidence for painting lamps?
>|P. Dominus Antonius|<
Leg XX VV
Tony Dah m
Oderint dum metuant - Cicero
Si vis pacem, para bellum - Vegetius
Posts: 1,962
Threads: 106
Joined: Apr 2003
Reputation:
7
No. Roman oil lamps weren't painted. Some of them (some spanish and italian wares) have a little slip of a dark brown or black colour, but covering the whole piece.
Posts: 7,668
Threads: 117
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
I think most of the oil lamps (the small, desktop, palm-sized models) were not regarded as a long term investment. Being unglazed, they would soon begin to ooze oil onto whatever was under them, which might not always be a desirable trait. And they break really easily if dropped or jostled in a box. Those who have travelled to an event can probably agree with that.
Then again, I'm thinking like a 21st c person, not a 1st c.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
