Purchased from J. Greenstein auction house in NY, this exquisite miniature hanging Shabbat oil lamp evokes the artistry of 18th - 19th century Italian religious craftsmanship. The top hook is masterfully cast with a dragon-fin or mythical creature motif—curved and clawed for secure gripping—leading into a looped chain connector for easy suspension from a beam. The stem descends in elegant baluster form, adorned with three bulbous knops that provide both aesthetic rhythm and structural balance, transitioning seamlessly to the lamp head: a shallow, circular reservoir bowl (about 3 inches across) hammered from solid brass to hold olive oil, surrounded by six short, angular spout arms extending outward like a starburst, each with a notched tip for wicking cotton threads. Below the spouts sits a concave drip pan, subtly flared to collect falling oil, ensuring clean burning without residue. The entire piece bears a warm, mellow brass finish with natural tarnish, faint engraving lines suggesting hand-chasing, and no modern seams or welds visible, pointing to lost-wax casting techniques. At 12 inches long and 5 inches wide, it's compact enough for tabletop display or low-ceiling hanging, with a subtle sway that would have cast flickering shadows during evening prayers. This isn't a functional modern replica but a historical artifact suited for collectors of Judaica or antique lighting.

Age: Estimated 18th-19th century (circa 1750-1850), based on stylistic comparisons to similar pieces from the Central European Jewish workshops. The hand-hammered texture, lack of machine tooling, and verdigris patina support this dating. 

Origin: Likely Central European (Italy), produced in Jewish artisan guilds during the height of Hasidic or Sephardic metalworking traditions.

Item dimensions: 12" tall × 5" diameter
Weight of item: 9 oz