Two oil lamps, for Sabbath and Chanukah (mesrejeh). Yemen, 19th or 20th century.
Soapstone (steatite), chiseled.
1. Oil lamp in the form of a nine-pointed star, with a knob in its center and remnants of a metal ring for suspension.
Maximum diameter: 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Some loss and damage. Missing metal ring.
2. Small lamp in the form of a thirteen-pointed star, with a knob in its center (indentation in the knob).
Maximum diameter: 15 cm. Minor damage and loss.
The mesrejeh lamps were used for both Sabbath and Chanukah. The knob in the center prevents the lamp from being considered an open fire.
Reference: Ester Muchawsky-Schnapper, "Oil Sabbath-lamps and Hanukah-lamps of stone from the Yemen", Journal of Jewish Art, vol. 9, 1982, pp. 76-83.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
