A Hellenistic Oil Lamp, ancient Pottery. 330 BC.

Size: 10x6 cm. 3.9x2.3 inch. 

The Hellenistic oil lamps are the first to be fully closed and made using a mould.

During the Hellenistic Period and from this point on, the neck was made much longer than the body. It was during this period that the body was given molded or engraved geometric designs.

Pottery oil lamps were made in three different ways. They could be handmade, wheel-made, or made by mold. The use of molds became increasingly popular but again consisted of two different methods. Once made, mold could be used to create many lamps, which meant that lamps could be easily and directly reproduced. This also ensured that the manufacturing of lamps could be extremely efficient and organized, producing large volumes of goods with standardized quality.