Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp Group

The god standing nude on an ivy-leaf base in contrapposto pose with right arm extended and hand held palm-outwards; mantle pinned at the right shoulder and wrapped around the bent left arm; the head held erect with soft rounded facial features and luxuriant curls, diadem with radiating spikes representing beams of light; mounting stud to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 583 grams total, 17.5 cm 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.

The cult of Helios-Apollo intensified in the third century A.D. and the adoration of Sol Invictus, with the radiate crown, was often linked to that of Mithras, the god of legions, whose symbol was the bull. Under Emperor Aurelian, the Sol Invictus became the main god, protector of Rome and the Roman state.

Iron shank with perpendicular wards, square-section bronze handle with incised geometric ornament, lion-head finial with open mouth to accept a suspension ring. 125 grams, 86 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

With cylindrical transverse headplate, scoped profile to the bow, catch to the reverse; shallow enamelled cells with reserved 'VITA VENI' legend translating to: '(My) life, come (to me)', since the Romans used the word uita ('life') as a term of endearment – Cicero, for example, when writing to his wife, calls her mea uita ('my life'), equivalent to 'darling'. 20.6 grams, 39 mm



Found Suffolk, UK. From an East Anglian private collection.