How to Prepare, Use and Clean A Roman Oil Lamp 

I use a tajine for cooking. Basically the same terra cotta. To prepare the vessel I was shown to wash well with water, no detergent, let it soak well, dry it partially and then rub olive oil into it, letting it dry again. Then again coating with oil and put it in a hot over for an hour. It seals the vessel. I shall try this ancient method on a lamp and see how it works. Great video btw,

Great tutorial! Would love link.

Without using milk and boiling, another method to stop the lamp from absorbing too much oil is: before first use, completely soak it in water for half a day or few hours at last (3-6). then let it dry a bit about 15-20 mins before using take( Or if you are pressed for time, Pat dry with a rag or kitchen towel etc), then fill with oil and use as normal. This method has been used before using new lamps for Deepawali festival in India when they will be using dozens of lamps. If we have forgotten to do this before first use, second time onwards the lamp will abosrb less or no extra oil anyway, because during first use it would have absorbed enough. You can just still sit back & enjoy the beauty and vibes of the lamp.

A most excellent film, so professional, no ego involved, lovely lady.

Casein is a milk product that's been around for thousands of years. Used for sealing and paint. I see the logic for using it to finish the lamps.

Excellent and informative video - the milk and cleaning tips are really helpful!

Thank you - have just placed an order for my first :)

if you don't round the edge of your pouring vessel it'll do much better. rounded edges make liquids pull around and down the bottom of the vessel as in this video

thanks so much for this great video!! Where is the link to the directions please?

If a lamp has not been sealed and used before and oil is soaked into the clay, can this way of sealing still be used after polymerising the oil in the oven to 'burn' te oil out ? Thanks. I love your video's.

Ah! I have been letting my wick be too long! This will make my life far easier!

there's a long history of using milk glue to seal porous vessels obtaining the casein using either vinegar or wood ash.

Thanks so much for this!!! I didn’t seal my lamp when I got it, and there’s so much oil soaked in! I’m going to give it a boil and then seal it with milk this time.

Thank you. I am wanting an alt light source if the lights go out and decided to look at history. Really enjoyed the video. Subbed and you have good day.^^

Please I would like to know the various techniques for creating a lamp Thanks

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of buying one of these and this is very helpful. What would happen if it runs out of oil whilst burning? Would it go out or would the wick all burn up? Would it be dangerous? Also, what happens to the oil as it burns? Does it cause grease to gather on surfaces in the room if it's going into the air? Thanks for any advice.

Hi, I know it's a bit late but I was wondering if you could clarify something. You mentioned that after burning your oil and wick I presumed for the day, that you have to change out the oil. So is that a requirement after every time it's lit?

ive followeds all the steps but am still experiencing leakage through the bottom of the lamp. any ideas?? :(

This Roman Lamp is kind of shaped similarly like a Diya Lamp

Do u sell the pottery where u place wick to soak with or w/o oil 🪔 lamp, how much set how much spare?

Couldn't they have also used the vessels as baby bottles, before they were used as lamps? You could add milk inside and put you finger on the top hole to build under-pressure and to keep it from coming out too fast from the nozzle, so it can be first placed to the mouth of the baby.

How did you discover/ think to try the milk trick?

Out of curiosity, would sealing it like cast iron work? (Rub oil into the surfaces, bake in the oven for an hour at the lowest possible setting, repeat for a few goes)

What if you don't have an oven? The sun for an hour ok? Microwave?

I have decided to abandon artificial light in favor of traditional so that means I will use a lot of oil lamps and candles.

Can I use vegetable oil? Dark times for living costs!

What’s the ratio of citronella oil to olive oil when you mix it to use at the BBQ to keep the midgets at bay?

If lipids waterproof the lamp, how does that prevent oil from soaking through? Lipids don't oilproof, I would guess. My money is on casein.