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LOT 0117
Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators
1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
4 7/8 in (84 grams, 12.4 cm).
Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base.
ProvenanceFrom a German collection.
Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.
Cf. Gilbert, F., Devenir Gladiateur, la vie quotidienne á l'ecole de la mort, La Capelle-Marival, 2013, pp.30-31, for similar lucernae.
FootnotesThe two gladiators seem to be wearing the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearer, parmati, like the oplomachus.
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LOT 0117
Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators
Estimate £1,000 - 1,400€1,160 - 1,620 (for guidance only)$1,350 - 1,890 (for guidance only)
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Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Frontal Bust
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
With brown slip, loop handle to the rear, the discus with a facing bust of a young woman within a concentric circle border; maker's mark 'LCΛPΓ' within tabula ansata-shaped stamp. 63 grams, 10.2 cm
Acquired on the European art market, 1980s. English private collection.
The discus decorations of these lamps are various: Diana, Dioscuri, Sol and Luna, Africa, Lares, and griffin; portraits of Domitian, Hadrian, male head, bust of a young man, bust of a young woman (our specimen), bust of a bearded old man, fisherman, and an aulete; scorpion, boar, and lion with crocodile; etc. They were an African production and not less than seven worskshops have been individuated: M N O V I V, M N O V I V S T (our case) , M N O V I V S T I , I V N I A L E X I, C C O R V R S , E X F N A / LV C C E I O R V M . Here we can add LCAPIT (Lucius Capito). -
Roman Gold Pendant with Beads
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Vertical gold shank with loop above, cell with inset garnet cabochon and three annular beads. 0.62 grams, 22 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Roman Horse-Headed Plate Brooch Group
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Gammadion brooches each with horse-head finials and central ring-and-dot motif. 26 grams total, 37-40 mm
UK art market, acquired prior to 1980. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.
