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Stone Oil Lamp, c. 15th - 17th Lashkargah, Afghan

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:70.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 600.00 USD
Stone Oil Lamp, c. 15th - 17th Lashkargah, Afghan
Presented in this lot is an ancient Stone Oil Lamp, circa 15th - 17th century, procured in 1969-1971 from Lashkargah, Afghanistan, once historically called Bost or Boost and later renamed. Was once the site of a Ghaznavid palace and soldiers' bazaar near the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers in southeastern Afghanistan. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and Snite Museum of Art, the University of Notre Dame, including of Afghan artifacts. The monuments at Bost include remains from periods of ancient Iranian, Greco-Roman, and Indian domination, as well as the ruins of an imposing fortress, a soaring arch with baked-brick decoration in geometric patterns. The wealth of the medieval city was attested by Arab and Persian writers. Much of Afghanistan's art can be traced back through the invasions, occupations, empires, and dynasties that so frequently have ravaged the country. Afghanistan has been a crossroads of cultures that make up the colorfully robust and dynamic foundation of Afghan art. The National Museum of Afghanistan showcases Islamic artifacts from the Ghaznavid dynasty in the 12th Century AD. The oil lamp has a black and a green-ish colour, most likely from being buried alongside an object made from copper. The lamp rests on four stubby feet, a coil-like band horizontally encircles the lamp around the back. Lamp appears to be granite. Measures 3"W x 5.75"L x 2.75"H, weight 2lb, 4oz