Roman Buffware Oil Lamp with Horse and Rider

Mould-made with convex shoulder separated from the concave discus by a narrow band of triangles and ovules, single groove around the discus, lower filling-hole, burn marks on the nozzle, flat undefined base, discus decorated with the head of Medusa within a laurel. 50 grams, 86 mm

Fine condition.

German collection formed since 1970. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A Loeschcke VIII variant. The form and decoration suggest a Hadrianic date, at which time Medusa was one of the most popular subjects depicted on lamps. In ancient mythology, Medusa was one of three monstrous winged female creatures who had venomous snakes living in her hair. The story of Medusa is elaborated by the Roman poet Ovid in his Metamorphosis, which explains that Medusa was a beautiful woman until she had sex with Poseidon in Athena’s temple. Athena exacted punishment on Medusa, turning her into a monstrous creature with a glare that turned all who gazed into her eyes to stone. Medusa was eventually beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who used her head as a weapon which, even after being hewn from Medusa's body, could turn his enemies to stone. Perseus later presented Medusa's head to the goddess Athena, which she in turn weaponised, placing it on her shield. In classical antiquity, representations of the head of Medusa appeared in the apotropaic device known as the Gorgoneion, designed to ward-off evil and bad luck.

Trichinopoly chain with hook-and-eye closure, ball pendant with beaded wire collar. 15.02 grams, 36.5 cm long



From the collection of a Cambridgeshire lady, UK, 1990s.

The chain is composed of links in the form of pairs of broad, ribbed bands soldered together at a right angle. It is of fine loop-in-loop construction, terminating on one side in a ribbed cap with loops. The chain of ribbed loops placed at right angles is one of several popular varieties introduced in the late Roman period. The ball pendant was very common in Graeco-Roman times, substituted by Christian symbols during the late empire.

Hollow-formed figure of Hercules resting with his weight on his left arm, cradling his club; lionskin mantle drawn over his head and covering his shoulders, back and thighs; right arm resting on his right thigh, holding a corner of the mantle; scaphoid base with attachment holes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 4.28 kg total, 25 cm wide 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.

This bronze was probably a chariot decoration. Hercules is represented here in mature age, bearded and with a cap and body covered by the skin of the Nemean Lion, killed in the first of his labours. This kind of image of Hercules was mainly widespread in the second to third century A.D., when emperors like Commodus and Maximianus Herculius identified themselves as the new Hercules at the top of the Roman state.