EARLY CHRISTIAN, CIRCA 5TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A NORTH AFRICAN RED-SLIP WARE OIL LAMP
EARLY CHRISTIAN, CIRCA 5TH CENTURY A.D.
With a tapering handle and a long canal nozzle, the discus molded with the Sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham standing at the center wielding a sword in his raised right hand, subduing his son Isaac with his left hand, Isaac kneeling with his arms bound behind his back, a bundle of sticks to his right for burning the sacrifice, a ram to the left of Abraham, the hand of God emerging above, with two fill-holes on the discus, the scene bordered on each side by a band of medallions with symbols including the Chi-Rho
5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm.) long

Provenance

Acquired in Munich, 1997.

Sale room notice

Please note that the Exhibition history and Literature listed in the catalogue are for a similar item, rather than for this piece.

Lot Essay

The story of the Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14) was widely used throughout the Early Christian world as a symbol for Jesus. As Isaac was spared from sacrifice, his story was seen was one of rebirth and resurrection, a precursor to the resurrection of Jesus.

For a similar example see no. 341 in Wamser, ed., Die Welt von Byzanz, Europas Östliches Erbe.

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