Late Roman Terracotta Slipper Oil Lamp

Comprising: one with a wide plaque with incised decoration, pin and catch-plate to the reverse; two with balustered bows and wide catch-plates. 44.1 grams total, 29-43 mm



UK private collection before 2000. On the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

Standing in contrapposto pose, wearing a cloak draped from the right shoulder and tucked around the left arm supporting a caduceus with snake-head finials; broad-brimmed petasos with wings on the crown; the right arm held vertically at the side supporting the marsupium coin-purse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 111 grams total, 88 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Mercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. The draped mantle is typical for statuary of Mercury from the 1st-2nd century A.D. (Boucher, pl.40, 43) as is the caduceus (Boucher, pl.46 (211)).

With later rounded plaque and inset jasper stud with intaglio fly motif. 17.26 grams, 26.69 mm overall, 19.90 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.