A token of a faith already old when it was created, this lamp might have lit Jewish homes or temples centuries ago. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. This particular oil lamp features intricate raised-dot patterning that likens the work with the Early Islamic style. Two sets of two lines draw the eye from the filling hole to the wick mouth.