Bronze oil lamps were made either with stands, like the nearby example, or with chains for suspension on hooks within homes and churches. This lamp is cast in the form of a griffin, a guardian figure from antiquity frequently used in Byzantine churches, which contained much wealth. The Christian monogram on the handle indicates the lamp was intended for use within a church.
Medium: Bronze. Measurements: 34.8 x 13.5 cm (13 11/16 x 5 5/16 in.) overall.
Source: clevelandart.org
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