This oil lamp was made by the Kabyle, a Berber people inhabiting the mountainous Kabylia region of north-eastern Algeria. The inhabitants of the region are primarily engaged in agriculture but also have a long tradition of elaborate pottery making dating back thousands of years.

This particular style of pottery is not made using a potter’s wheel but is hand-crafted, usually by women, with techniques in use for over four thousand years. The designs decorating the piece take the form of elaborate geometrical patterns said to symbolise fertility, water and the earth. These patterns have been a feature of Kabyle design for generations and archaeologists have traced the origins of some patterns to vessels from the Neolithic era.

Although much Kabyle pottery is functional, it also has important ritual uses. Some of the most elaborate examples are oil lamps like this one for use in wedding ceremonies. The lamp is carried at the front of the bride’s wedding procession and is then placed in the bedchamber on the wedding night to ensure happiness and fertility.

Not currently on display. 

Please use the contact form below to vote for your Museum World Treasure