from Taymouth Castle, Kenmore, Perthshire; Needless, Perthshire; and probably Aberdeenshire
Add to albumThese three steatite lamps were found at Taymouth Castle at Kenmore in Perthshire, at Needless in Perthshire and probably in Aberdeenshire. They date from between 200 BC and 400 AD. The lamps would have been filled with oil on which a wick floated.
All three lamps have handles, perforated on the top two examples. The lamp on the left has also been decorated with a herringbone pattern. The bottom lamp is unfinished. The hollowing was possibly just started when the handle broke.
Early lamps were generally carved from stone. Steatite was an ideal material. It was easy to carve, and did not crack with heat. But steatite only outcrops in a few places in Scotland, and these lamps or their raw material had probably been imported to the sites.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-190-004-051-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.AQ 63
- Date: 200 BC - 400 AD
Between 200 BC and 400 AD
- Material: Steatite; with projecting knob; unfinished; broken
Steatitic stone; circular; with perforated handle
Steatitic stone; perforated handle; herring-bone pattern outside
Lamp
Lamp
Lamp
- Dimensions: 3.40" D; projecting knob 1.60" W
4.00"
Cavity 4.00" D
- What: Lamp
Lamp
Lamp
- Subject:
- Who: Alexander Sangster (Former owner)
- Where: Scotland, Aberdeenshire
Scotland, Perthshire, Kenmore, Taymouth Castle
Scotland, Perthshire, Perth, Needless
- Event:
- Description: Steatite lamp with perforated handle, found near Taymouth Castle, Kenmore, Perthshire
Unfinished steatite handled lamp, the hollowing possibly just started when the handle broke, probably from Aberdeenshire
Steatite lamp with perforated handle, from Needless, Perthshire, 200 BC - 400 AD
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