The safest oil for these lamps is regular olive oil , not extra virgin. Regular works burns clean .Soak the wick for 10 minutes before lighting. Olive oil is extremely safe. I hope this helps someone.
Very nice. I have never crafted any clay but it called to me recently. I think an oil lamp will be my first go at it. Just bearing in mind that lamps of this era were used in homes made of mud, stones and bricks. Would surely be extra hazardous in a modern home comprised of wood.
Do you think it is ok to use an ancient oil lamp that is in good condition? I bought one in 1993 in Israel, a Herodian lamp dating 1st century AD. It’s been on a shelf ever since. Earlier this week I filled it with olive oil and lit it for the first time in 2,000 years, it is very beautiful, I was shocked at how bright it was and how clean it burned. But I am wondering if it is really not a good idea to use the lamp? Do you have any experience/thoughts about using an ancient lamp? Thank you 🙏
Hi Sorry for the delay in responding. I'd probably hesitate before using an ancient lamp, but it's true to say that, with occasional exceptions, they are generally not rare finds. With care it should go on working although the oil and the heat will eventually cause it to deteriorate.
Hi Christopher, they need to be fired before they are lit, but you can see the lamp being lit in one of our other videos. Watch it here ua-cam.com/video/xxUwOx0OqfI/v-deo.html
Hi, the archetype lamp is hand-formed, and then a mould is taken. However, you can tweak the mould after it is made by carving into its surface. This is something that we often do to refine any small details that have been lost during the moulding process.
Good question. As with all our replicas it was made from scratch using, as far as possible, the same methods that the makers of the original would have used. So in this case an Archaeotype was hand modelled, that was used to make the mould and this lamp made from that mould.
Pressing the clay into the mould in this way results in an even surface with deeply pressed decoration. Using a slab of clay causes folding as the slab tries to bend round the corners and because less pressure is needed it fails to pick up the finest detail of the design. The technique is also attested by the archaeological evidence of the makers fingerprints on the insides of the lamps.
Question, the one that you have been using does any oil drip from the wick over the edge to the underneath and get on the table? I've heard they can drip. Thanks for your help.
Hi, as these lamps are made of earthenware clay, they are porous, and so some oil will leak through the lamp onto the surface below. So, it is always best to have them on a plate or tile to avoid staining furniture. There is also evidence that these lamps were sealed before use. You can learn more about that here ua-cam.com/video/xxUwOx0OqfI/v-deo.html
Hi, You can sign up for our commission list, and we will be able to get more details of your requirements and give you a quote. Click the link and then fill in the details of your request, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. You can sign up here potted-history.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4dfefd107974ceb185f2cdbbf&id=40776e46fa
Question: Have AncientRomans used their hands to make the oil lamps or with these "stone prints" as you showed here? The latter seems more of modern standards intrevention.
90% of Roman lamps were mould made, it's a technique that predates the Romans and was used by the Greeks and Egyptians before them. Roman pottery technology was very advanced.
We make all the molds ourselves and don't generally sell them, but I think it's about time we made a video showing you how to make your own. So watch this space.
It Doesn't say "How To"! It says "Making A Roman Lamp" and that's what we do, we make replicas of ancient ceramics and show you how we do it. In this case a lamp, but we also made the mould, and the archetype from which the mould was made.
I meant: how do you make the mold? Anyone can put clay inside a mold - how does one make the mold. Don't worry I will make something and cast plaster around it, obviously but I'm sure there is more to it than that. I just can't believe you thought it was compelling content @@PottedHistory
We make all the molds ourselves and don't generally sell them, but I think it's about time we made a video showing you how to make your own. So watch this space.
@@PottedHistory So generous of you.. I put myself in your position. You explore the ancient craft and recreate the tools, in this case the molds to cast the roman style oil lamps. Which are used to produce a product of your online business. And then of course you get the requests by some to buy these molds. I can feel a bit of a pain there. Because you already showed everything of the skills and process to make the lamps.. and then you are asked to even sell the tools. Hmmm... what to do ? I think I would not like to sell tools. It's just the first feel I get. But there are persons out there who (still) lack the skills to make their own tools which is indeed not that difficult.. and you would like to help them too. Myself I already do casting items and mold making. And I discovered these nice oil lamps online in museums collections with plenty of information about designs and history. I became interested by these items and started to consider making some. Especially because the decorative central designs would be fun to do while always using the same basic pattern for the lamp itself. Looks in fact quite feasible to me. I will have more fun to create a variety of central designs than assembling the clay parts. I look forward to carve the prototypes into blocks of Paraphine. Which gets hard enough for serving as a plug for mold making and allows the sculpturing of fine details. Anyhow during my research I tried to get confirmation about my idea how the oil lamps may have been done. I thought among other scenarios that maybe the ancient potters filled the lower lamp part with something prior to the gluing of the top part. In your video this appears to not be necessary. So finally I also discovered your channel and really I am still happily suprised that you are so friendly to share your skills as part of your online presence. Thank you!
The safest oil for these lamps is regular olive oil , not extra virgin. Regular works burns clean .Soak the wick for 10 minutes before lighting. Olive oil is extremely safe. I hope this helps someone.
Absolutely informative and so well crafted! Thank you for this!
Glad it was helpful!
Very nice. I have never crafted any clay but it called to me recently. I think an oil lamp will be my first go at it. Just bearing in mind that lamps of this era were used in homes made of mud, stones and bricks. Would surely be extra hazardous in a modern home comprised of wood.
Wonderful!
Great! Do you sell de base mold for the lamps?
Very well done. Nice lamp.
Bravo!
Thank You!
SO cool.
Do you think it is ok to use an ancient oil lamp that is in good condition? I bought one in 1993 in Israel, a Herodian lamp dating 1st century AD. It’s been on a shelf ever since. Earlier this week I filled it with olive oil and lit it for the first time in 2,000 years, it is very beautiful, I was shocked at how bright it was and how clean it burned. But I am wondering if it is really not a good idea to use the lamp? Do you have any experience/thoughts about using an ancient lamp? Thank you 🙏
Here is a link to a phot of the lamp if you would like to have a look….
drive.google.com/file/d/1tlEkGNVJ5kKTmIefLVHpIZueGxu9NTQ0/view?usp=drivesdk
Not sure that will work, but gave it a try… the photo I mean.
Hi Sorry for the delay in responding. I'd probably hesitate before using an ancient lamp, but it's true to say that, with occasional exceptions, they are generally not rare finds. With care it should go on working although the oil and the heat will eventually cause it to deteriorate.
Oh come on, fill it and light it for us!
Hi Christopher, they need to be fired before they are lit, but you can see the lamp being lit in one of our other videos. Watch it here ua-cam.com/video/xxUwOx0OqfI/v-deo.html
nice vLogs, thank you.
Glad you like them!
Was the shape originally carved into the mold, or was there a hand-built clay model that the mold was cast around?
Hi, the archetype lamp is hand-formed, and then a mould is taken. However, you can tweak the mould after it is made by carving into its surface. This is something that we often do to refine any small details that have been lost during the moulding process.
did you make the original yourself by hand to cast the plaster mould? Or did you cast the mould from a replica/original Roman one?
Good question. As with all our replicas it was made from scratch using, as far as possible, the same methods that the makers of the original would have used. So in this case an Archaeotype was hand modelled, that was used to make the mould and this lamp made from that mould.
I have a question, how do we know that the clay was fully hand pressed in to the mould rather than rolled into a slab and then pressed into the mould?
Pressing the clay into the mould in this way results in an even surface with deeply pressed decoration. Using a slab of clay causes folding as the slab tries to bend round the corners and because less pressure is needed it fails to pick up the finest detail of the design. The technique is also attested by the archaeological evidence of the makers fingerprints on the insides of the lamps.
Question, the one that you have been using does any oil drip from the wick over the edge to the underneath and get on the table? I've heard they can drip. Thanks for your help.
On another video it was said use a saucer .
Hi, as these lamps are made of earthenware clay, they are porous, and so some oil will leak through the lamp onto the surface below. So, it is always best to have them on a plate or tile to avoid staining furniture. There is also evidence that these lamps were sealed before use. You can learn more about that here ua-cam.com/video/xxUwOx0OqfI/v-deo.html
I would like to buy a mold if it were possible and how and where I can contact. thanks
Hi, You can sign up for our commission list, and we will be able to get more details of your requirements and give you a quote. Click the link and then fill in the details of your request, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. You can sign up here potted-history.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4dfefd107974ceb185f2cdbbf&id=40776e46fa
Tell me please what material the mold is made of? is it baked clay or plaster?
Hi, we have made this mould out of plaster for durability, but most Roman lamp moulds were made from clay, with only a few examples of plaster moulds.
Question: Have AncientRomans used their hands to make the oil lamps or with these "stone prints" as you showed here? The latter seems more of modern standards intrevention.
90% of Roman lamps were mould made, it's a technique that predates the Romans and was used by the Greeks and Egyptians before them. Roman pottery technology was very advanced.
Do u sell your lamps? If so, how could we purchase?
You can also own one of our authentically hand-crafted replicas by visiting our website potted-history.co.uk
Awesome! I'm new here. What is the mold made of?
In this case plaster but we also make and use fired clay molds.
@@PottedHistory Thanx :) Love your work
Hello where can I buy the mould please ?
We make all the molds ourselves and don't generally sell them, but I think it's about time we made a video showing you how to make your own. So watch this space.
@@PottedHistory ok please make a video on it and if you plan to sell it please can I buy it ?
@@PottedHistory do you offer classes to learn pottery making online ?
Spedisci in italia?
We do. htttps://potted-history.co.uk
It's not really a how-to if you are using a mold - unless people have a mold handy
It Doesn't say "How To"! It says "Making A Roman Lamp" and that's what we do, we make replicas of ancient ceramics and show you how we do it. In this case a lamp, but we also made the mould, and the archetype from which the mould was made.
And probably should add: And that's exactly how the Romans made them!
I meant: how do you make the mold? Anyone can put clay inside a mold - how does one make the mold. Don't worry I will make something and cast plaster around it, obviously but I'm sure there is more to it than that. I just can't believe you thought it was compelling content @@PottedHistory
Good for you @@PottedHistory
@@alimay1011 790 hours of view time would suggest otherwise! I suggest that you avoid wasting any more of your time watching any of our other content.
where can i get hold of one of those specific molds? I am a pensioner from South Africa.
We make all the molds ourselves and don't generally sell them, but I think it's about time we made a video showing you how to make your own. So watch this space.
@@PottedHistory So generous of you.. I put myself in your position. You explore the ancient craft and recreate the tools, in this case the molds to cast the roman style oil lamps. Which are used to produce a product of your online business. And then of course you get the requests by some to buy these molds. I can feel a bit of a pain there. Because you already showed everything of the skills and process to make the lamps.. and then you are asked to even sell the tools. Hmmm... what to do ? I think I would not like to sell tools. It's just the first feel I get. But there are persons out there who (still) lack the skills to make their own tools which is indeed not that difficult.. and you would like to help them too. Myself I already do casting items and mold making. And I discovered these nice oil lamps online in museums collections with plenty of information about designs and history. I became interested by these items and started to consider making some. Especially because the decorative central designs would be fun to do while always using the same basic pattern for the lamp itself. Looks in fact quite feasible to me. I will have more fun to create a variety of central designs than assembling the clay parts. I look forward to carve the prototypes into blocks of Paraphine. Which gets hard enough for serving as a plug for mold making and allows the sculpturing of fine details. Anyhow during my research I tried to get confirmation about my idea how the oil lamps may have been done. I thought among other scenarios that maybe the ancient potters filled the lower lamp part with something prior to the gluing of the top part. In your video this appears to not be necessary. So finally I also discovered your channel and really I am still happily suprised that you are so friendly to share your skills as part of your online presence. Thank you!
Watching Bible reenactments I couldn't stop admiring this oil lamp.How do I make the mold? Thanku for these amazing teachings.
Hi, Thank you for watching. You need to form a master copy of the lamp in clay and then make a mould of this. Good luck :)