Leaf-Shaped Schist Stone Oil Lamp
Material: Schist stone
Object Type: Oil lamp / lighting vessel
Period: Gandhāran / Kushan Period
Approximate Date: 1st–3rd century CE (tentative)
Probable Region: Gandhāra, northwestern Pakistan
This is a leaf-shaped oil lamp carved from schist stone, with a broad rounded body and a pointed front end. It has a thick, raised outer rim enclosing a recessed central basin intended to hold oil. Three raised projections are present inside the basin, possibly serving as supports for wicks. The lamp has a relatively simple but distinctive foliate form, combining practical function with decorative design. Its surface shows considerable weathering, abrasion, and discoloration, indicating prolonged age and use. The use of schist and the overall form are compatible with the Gandhāran cultural region. It may have been used for domestic illumination or in a religious setting.
