Medieval Islamic Steatite Oil Lamp c1300-1400

Medieval Islamic Steatite Pedestal Oil Lamp

Afghanistan / Northern Pakistan, circa 13th–16th century

Carved from a talc-rich steatite characterised by dark veining and mica inclusions, this lamp comprises a cylindrical reservoir raised on a splayed foot, with an elongated beaked wick-spout extending from one side. The upper rim is bordered with regularly cut vertical notches, while the body carries an incised cross-hatched band motifs consistent with medieval Afghan stone carving traditions.

Lamps of this type have been found across Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, and the Swat Valley, forming part of an Islamic stone-working tradition that spans the middle to late medieval period.

Comparable examples appear in museum and excavated contexts, frequently labelled “alabaster” in the earlier literature; however, examination identifies the material as steatite, prized for its heat-resistant properties.