How easy is it to turn on the light, just flick a switch and there it is beautiful low cost LED light thank you Mr Nakamura and Mr Swann.
Before then it was a right faff and the light wasn’t that brilliant it was oil, fat and spirits.
I made a replica Roman oil lamp using a small dish mould and covering it with a slab, making a spout and a hole for filling. I fired it to biscuit, then boiled it in milk, as the romans did. This seals off the pores and the olive oil doesn’t leak out. The wick is soaked in the oil before it is placed inside and topped up with olive oil. The Roman must have used millions of litres of olive oil to cook with and to light their way.
Whitecroft Pottery 