Byzantine Red-Ware Lamp: Chi-Rho

An ancient Byzantine red-ware oil lamp with the Christogram: Chi-Rho in the center, and a border of concentric circles.

North African Red-Ware, Terra Sigillata Africana.

Ca. 5th - 6th century AD.

Length: 5 1/4 in. (13.4 cm).

From the 1st century AD onward, North African red-slip ware production expanded greatly and began to replace Italian Terra Sigillata pottery, and compete with Gallic wares in Southern France. Nova Karthago was the center of production but smaller factories soon cropped up throughout Numidia and Byzacena.

cf.: J. W. Hayes, Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery, (London, 1997), p. 63.

Formerly in an English private collection.

Inv#: 8577

Guaranteed Authentic

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