Roman Terracotta Mask Oil Lamp

1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

5 in. (94 grams, 12.7 cm wide).

Hollow-formed with a bulbous cap forming the handle, with pierced lugs above and below at the rear and two more pierced lugs flanking the cheeks; body formed as a comic theatrical mask with a large open mouth; filling holes in the mouth, volute nozzle below the chin; flat oval base with maker's stamp 'QNMVICE' and old findspot label 'from F.F[..]r Esq. Sabdown 23.3.96'; accompanied by a printed reference sheet for the maker.

Provenance

Excavated by Frederick George Hilton Price (1842-1909) from the Roman villa at Morton, near Sandown, Isle of Wight, 1880-1883; his manuscript label, dated March 1896.
with Gorringes, 2025.
Acquired by the current owner from the above.

Published

Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 7th October 2026-9th December 2026; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.

Literature

Cf. Bussière, J., Lindros Wohl, B., Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 2017, p.435 and 440, nos.594, 601-603, for similar.

Footnotes

The maker is believed to be the Italian Quintus Numi[..] Cell[..].

CONDITION

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Excavated by Frederick George Hilton Price

LOT 0190