My next project is a medieval oil lamp.
Oil lamps are an ancient technology reaching back thousands of years across every culture. They consist of three essential parts--a stone or ceramic reservoir (or later, metal or glass), a wick (variously made of cotton, wool, seagrasses, hemp) and fuel (oil or animal fat). We are fortunate in that we have many extant examples of this technology across many cultures throughout the medieval period from which to draw our inspiration.
The image above shows the wide variety of shapes of oil lamps found at an excavation of 10th C. Thetford, UK., and the image below is that of a soapstone lamp found in House Seven at the Norse dig in Jarlshof, Scotland. The lamp dates from the 11th - 14th centuries CE. Holes drilled into the ends of the stone indicate that it was intended to be suspended. (Hey, that rhymes!)
Surprisingly, I have found little in the way of western European lamps once the Norse invaders were assimilated into the local communities. We know there were several methods of lighting available during the Middles Ages--braziers, rushlights, and candles (tallow or beeswax). Oil lamps seem to be missing somewhat from the archaeological record, but enough of them survive to assure us that this technology persisted throughout the medieval period, and indeed, into the present day.
This image is of a medieval oil lamp (possibly alabaster or limestone) found in the Museum of London. It is different from its Norse predecessors in that it is embellished on the side with heraldry. Possibly, this embellishment is an Islamic influence, sustained through contact made with that culture during the Crusades. Typically we find that Islamic lamps are much more figurative and elaborately decorated than those produced by the northern craftsmen of the same period.
I have made oil lamps in the past, specifically a Norse longboat and a whimsical (and modern) bear. I am drawn to them as a project because they are at once imminently practical and handsome. I find that there is so much scope for interpretation because they are so simple.
With this project, I wanted to make a western European lamp of the medieval period that was embellished as above, and still authentic enough to be suitable for reenactment without slavishly reproducing the original. I chose a piece of soapstone in a colour that appealed to me and roughed it out into a rectangular shape. (I regret I did not capture images of the rough stone. Bad artisan! BAD!) The shape is deliberate because while I find the goblet lamps very pleasing aesthetically, I want most of all for the lamp to be safe. There is very little chance of something this broad and low being knocked over.
This is the lamp worked down to its basic shape. It is roughly 3.5 inches long, 2.75 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches tall. The reservoir is approximately 3/4 of an inch deep. The shaping of the rough stone was done the usual way using rasps and rifflers. This process has been chronicled in earlier posts, specifically this one detailing the creation of a soapstone gaming piece. In the above image, I have included the u-bowl gouge used to make the reservoir.
As always, kids, safety first. Wear protective equipment (respirator/mask), gloves, and always work away from your body. Those gouges are bloody sharp (or should be! Take care of your tools!)
It is my intention to carve a dragon along both of the lamp's long sides and possibly some foliage on the short ends. Our next post will be about the images I am using and how I will render them in bas relief on the lamp.
And for those of you wondering what colour the soapstone is? I'm going to be difficult and not reveal that until the end. So stay tuned!
Oil lamps are an ancient technology reaching back thousands of years across every culture. They consist of three essential parts--a stone or ceramic reservoir (or later, metal or glass), a wick (variously made of cotton, wool, seagrasses, hemp) and fuel (oil or animal fat). We are fortunate in that we have many extant examples of this technology across many cultures throughout the medieval period from which to draw our inspiration.
Surprisingly, I have found little in the way of western European lamps once the Norse invaders were assimilated into the local communities. We know there were several methods of lighting available during the Middles Ages--braziers, rushlights, and candles (tallow or beeswax). Oil lamps seem to be missing somewhat from the archaeological record, but enough of them survive to assure us that this technology persisted throughout the medieval period, and indeed, into the present day.
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| Medieval oil lamp, Museum of London |
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| Islamic oil lamp |
With this project, I wanted to make a western European lamp of the medieval period that was embellished as above, and still authentic enough to be suitable for reenactment without slavishly reproducing the original. I chose a piece of soapstone in a colour that appealed to me and roughed it out into a rectangular shape. (I regret I did not capture images of the rough stone. Bad artisan! BAD!) The shape is deliberate because while I find the goblet lamps very pleasing aesthetically, I want most of all for the lamp to be safe. There is very little chance of something this broad and low being knocked over.
As always, kids, safety first. Wear protective equipment (respirator/mask), gloves, and always work away from your body. Those gouges are bloody sharp (or should be! Take care of your tools!)
And for those of you wondering what colour the soapstone is? I'm going to be difficult and not reveal that until the end. So stay tuned!
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