This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its thickened, pedestal base, this lamp probably derives from the  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its thickened, pedestal base, this lamp probably derives from the Southern Kingdom of Israel during the period of the Divided Kingdom. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.378)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with signs inside a scroll pattern. These spell out the name Tehenkha, which is that of a private citizen of ancient Egypt. - (S.036)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with a design. In the center is a sign which represents a windpipe attached to a pair of lungs. Plants are wound around it. This symbol refers to the unification of upper and lower Egypt, and it is most often found on the side of the King's throne. - (S.037)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the pre-Exilic Period. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.379)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its thickened, pedestal base, this lamp probably derives from the  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its thickened, pedestal base, this lamp probably derives from the Southern Kingdom of Israel during the period of the Divided Kingdom. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.380)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the pre-Exilic Period. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.383)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the pre-Exilic Period. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.384)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Dimensions: .375" (1.0cm) high x .75" (1.9cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Dimensions: .375" (1.0cm) high x .75" (1.9cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Steatite The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self- existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with a design representing a pair of deer. - (S.045)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy. Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably derives from the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the pre-Exilic Period. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.385)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1650 BC to 1085 BC Catalogue: V1 Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience The sacred beetle of ancient Egypt, the scarab is an emblem of the creator, Khepera. The word kepher denotes Being, Existence, Creation, or Becoming, and the god Kephera is the self-existent maker of all things. The worship of the scarab, which is symbolic of resurrection and fertility, dates from the earliest period of civilization in Egypt. Carved scarabs served two major functions: as amulets with protective and religious powers, and as personal seals, which designated the property and authority of the individual whose name was placed upon them. In both cases, the power ascribed to the scarab was very great—in life they served as the signature of their owner and were thought to bring prosperity, and in the afterlife they ensured rebirth through eternity. Inscribed with the cartouche of King Tuthmosis III, containing his name Menkheperre. On top of the cartouche are two feathers; on each side is a uraeus. - (S.052)   « Less