18th century Italian silver Chanukkah lamps with such an excellent quality of repoussé and chasing are rare on the open market. Almost as a rule the Italian Chanukkah lamps of the 18th century and earlier were made for hanging on the wall and do not have a drip plate. Therefore it is almost certain that this lamp was originally designed without a drip plate which was added later as a matter of convenience, and in analogy to the design of contemporary Dutch Chanukkah lamps.

cf. Vivian B. Mann (ed.), Gardens and Ghettos - The Art of Jewish Life in Italy, p. 294, and M. Karniss, The Hanukkah Lamp, no. 54, for a similar design of Italian lamps with the typically scrolled arms supporting the fonts and without a drip plate