This bronze lamp, mounted on an eagle's claw was made in the second half of the 19th century after Severo da Ravenna in Padua or Ravenna who was well known for producing lamps in the first half of the 16th century. 
The lamp is the head of a person of African descent with a slave collar.  Their mouth forms the burner and a hinged cover to the oil hole is on the crown of the head.  The claw of an eagle cast from nature represents a particularly popular element for oil lamps in the Paduan Renaissance.  Apart from the decorative purpose, it also provides good stability of the object, comparable to an antique tripod.

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This bronze lamp, mounted on an eagle's claw was made in the second half of the 19th century after Severo da Ravenna in Padua or Ravenna who was well known for producing lamps in the first half of the 16th century. The lamp is the head of a person of African descent with a slave collar. Their mouth forms the burner and a hinged cover to the oil hole is on the crown of the head. The claw of an eagle cast from nature represents a particularly popular element for oil lamps in the Paduan Renaissance. Apart from the decorative purpose, it also provides good stability of the object, comparable to an antique tripod.

Oil Lamp

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