Hellenistic Terracotta Oil Lamp with Cornucopiae

2ND-1ST CENTURY B.C.

4 1/4 in. (62 grams, 10.5 cm).

With circular body and raised rim, round central filling-hole flanked by cornucopiae; long broad nozzle with rounded spout-like termination; handle with three ribs.

Provenance

Collected from 1970-1999.
From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Literature

Cf. Walters, H.B., Catalogue of the Greek and Roman lamps in the British Museum, London, 1914, fig.333, for the type.

Footnotes

The principal parts of a Graeco-Roman lamp were: a) the body or reservoir which contained the oil (infundibulum); the flat circular top (discus) on which the design was placed, sometimes with an ornamental rim; the edge (margo); the nozzle (rostrum, nasus, myxus) with a hole for the insertion of the wick (ellychnium); and the handle (ansa, manubrium,).

CONDITION

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LOT 0644