Oil Lamp

Lamps made from shells, concave stones, and other natural objects have been found from some 15,000 years ago. The advent of pottery offered new material that could readily be crafted and styled into different forms. Early examples were open bowls or saucers pinched one or more times on the edges to hold a wick of flax, which was lying in olive oil. Next a type of nozzle took the place of the pinch, and eventually the bowl was nearly closed with a spout to hold the wick. To complement their function in providing light, the lamps were often ornately decorated and even shaped into anthropomorphic and imaginative forms. Olive oil continued as the most widely used fuel.