Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Chrismon Lamp
This terracotta lamp displays the superimposed Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P), the monogram of Christ. These initials form a symbol that serves as an invocation, or appeal, for his divine protection. People used clay oil lamps to light their homes and, when decorated with Christian symbols, to refer to Christ as the symbolic light of the world.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Pete N. Nickolas ("Helios Old World Antiquities"), Westminster, Maryland, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1987, by purchase.
Geographies
North Africa (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 1 5/16 x W: 4 3/16 x D: 2 9/16 in. (3.3 x 10.6 x 6.5 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, 1987
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
48.2569