Loading, please wait...

Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 0696

Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp

LATE 1ST CENTURY A.D.

3 3/4 in. (77.7 grams, 96 mm).

A factory lamp with flat-topped oval body, broad flat shoulder and small concave plain discus; flat bottom with Latin inscription 'FORTIS'. [No Reserve]

Provenance

From the collection of a High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman, circa 2000.

Literature

Cf. identical lamp with similar inscription in the Museum of Bologna (Italy), inventory no.6259.

Footnotes

At the end of the 1st century B.C., in the Po Valley, began the industrial production of Firmalampen, i.e. lamps signed on the bottom in relief noting the place of production or fabrica. The signature FORTIS, visible on this specimen, is one of the most documented and is attributable to the workshop of L. Aemilius Fortis, recently discovered to have been in Mutina (Modena).

CONDITION
VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0696

Roman FORTIS Terracotta Oil Lamp

Sold for (Inc. bp): £124

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Roman Bronze Strigil with Leaf Design
    Roman Bronze Strigil with Leaf Design
    2nd century B.C.-2nd century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £442

    With C-section profile to the blade, rectangular handle with lateral flanges. 44 grams, 22 cm



    Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

    Lot Details

  • Roman Thames Leather Marching Shoe Sole Group
    Roman 'Thames' Leather Marching Shoe Sole Group
    1st-4th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300

    With perforations for attachment to the shoe uppers through nails; one fragmentary. 248 grams total, 22.5-24.5 cm



    Found by Steve Brooker on the Thames foreshore at Embankment, London, UK, 2001. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

    Waterlogged conditions on the Thames waterfront have created the oxygen-free environment needed for the survival of ancient organic artefacts. Among the studied or published Roman leatherwork from London, 89% is composed of footwear. The introduction of vegetable tanned leather and the expansion of ironworking were some of the major technological innovations of the Roman period; allowing the mass production of sturdy, hobnailed shoes.

    Lot Details

  • Roman Iridescent Green Glass Ampulla
    Roman Iridescent Green Glass Ampulla
    1st-3rd century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £117

    Featuring a bottle of a wide form, free blown from translucent glass of a soft turquoise hue, defined by a slightly concave base, a piriform body with a tapered shoulder, a lightly corseted neckline beneath a cylindrical neck, and a splayed rim with an in-folded lip. 23 grams, 11.6 cm high



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

    The ampulla was a small round vessel, usually made of glass and used for sacred purposes. The word is used in archaeology, also for flasks that are often handle-less and much flatter. Materials include glass, ceramics and metal. The unguentarium was a term for a bottle believed to have been used to store perfume.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list