Small 4" by 2.5" pottery oil lamp, with label on bottom indicating "3rd-6th cent."
My father took us to Peru and Equador in the late 1970's and returned with many pottery pieces; he sold most in the 1990's but left us these.
Hi David,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A Pre-Columbian earthenware oil lamp
South American, possibly Third-Sixth Century
4 by 2 1/2 inches
CONDITION: pitted and worn
PROVENANCE: acquired in Peru or Ecuador in the 1970s
$300-500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you again for using Mearto.
Hi David,
It's almost impossible to tell from photos. In all truth, there's not much difference in value between genuine ones and reproductions...there are lots of genuine ones on the market, all bringing in the $300-500 range, with reproductions selling for about the same, maybe a little less.
Hi Delia,
Can you tell from photos that this is genuine and not reproduction? My dad passed these on to us but I don't have any documentation, etc.
Thanks!
David