A high temperature heater lamp including a ceramic envelope is disclosed. The ceramic envelope is substantially infrared transparent and is composed of a refractory ceramic. The heater lamp also includes two lead wires communicatively coupled via a filament. The filament is enclosed within the ceramic envelope, which is evacuated. The heater lamp may include at least two metallic IR shields within the ceramic envelope, at least one located on either side of the filament. The filament may be tungsten, a carbon filament, or molybdenum. At least one end of the ceramic envelope may be sealed with a metal cap affixed to the ceramic envelope by a high vacuum sealant. The heater lamp may be configured to operate at above 1500° C. The ceramic envelope may have a wall thickness less than 1 mm thick.