Possibly Tunisia (most Hayes II A lamps were made there).

The lamp was made in North Africa under Roman rule, hence the similarity to lamps made in Italy at the time.

Lamp mould, lime plaster, maker unknown, Tunisia, 5th century CE

Lime plaster mould for top of Byzantine North African lamp. The mould is oval-shaped and very finely modelled with geometric and floral motifs on rim (left section near handle obliterated/blurred). The centre of the mould is decorated with a date palm with fruit suspended from the tips of its lowest fronds. The rim features motifs of dotted triangles, hatched squares, five lobed leaves, and six petalled flowers. The mould also features four indents for aligning and separating the top from the base (possibly during manufacture of mould, rather than of lamp).

Made: Carthage, Tunisia; 420 - 500

No marks

A6534

420 - 500

43 mm

145 mm

208 mm