Roman Miniature Terracotta Oil Lamp with Theatre Mask

Composed of a lentoid-section hoop expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel set with a garnet intaglio gemstone depicting a bearded male bust facing left, wearing an earring and pendant necklace. 9.61 grams, 27.60 mm overall, 15.39 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H 1/2, USA 4, Europe 6.81, Japan 6)



Private collection. Accompanied by an expert report by Dr Jack Ogden, 9 June 2017.

Comprising a shallow U-section curved head and rectangular handle folded at the top to create a suspension loop to reverse; repaired. 50 grams, 23.5 cm



Acquired on the German art market around 2000. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Displaying a figural scene in relief showing the Dioscuri, wearing a crested helmet and raising the right arm in salutation; the bust of Sol wearing a radiate crown and the horned bust of moon surmounted by a crescent, border to the perimeter representing two snakes; the inner border with seven six-pointed stars, a large dolphin-like creature swimming to the right, to the left a group of round objects; to the right of the left hand rider, a three-legged offering table with three candle-sticks; between the sun and the moon a standing female deity dressed in peplos and chiton, facing right with her right arm raised in front of her; behind the moon a bird waddling to left; to the right of the left hand rider, a cockerel; beneath the horse’s hooves two prostrate figures lying face down, head to the right and left, the right figure with the left knee bent in supplication; at the centre, between the two horsemen, a standing female deity in long chiton (Helen of Troy); behind the right horse, a standing male figure facing left with his right hand raised in salutation, wearing a knee length tunica, short boots and a heavy cloak; on the lower margin a small prostrate figure with head to the right, limbs extended, a twin-handled wine cup, a standard surmounted by a lamp, a figure hanging head down from a stunted tree and a lion stalking left. 61 grams, 70 mm



From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

The plaque contains a complex iconography of divine figures and symbols, probably associated with Thracian or Dacian beliefs of the Lower Danube region, but also with the Greek myth of the divine twins Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), an important element of Roman religion since its origins, here mixed with the cult of the Danubian rider. Presiding over the whole scene is usually the Sol Invictus (the unconquered sun-god) and his sister the Moon (Selene).