Loading, please wait...
LOT 0817
Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp of Head of Silenus
LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C.-EARLY 1ST CENTURY A.D.
4 3/4 in. (82 grams, 12.1 cm).
Mould-made with the upper half of the body in the form of a male head with well-defined features, long moustache and beard, possibly a representation of the god Silenus; ring handle at the rear.
ProvenancePreviously Cambridge, UK, private collection, circa 2010.
Ex London, UK, gallery.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See Hayes, J.W., Ancient Lamps in the Royal Ontario Museum, item 99, for a similar example.
FootnotesPlastic lamps with figurines first appear in the Hellenistic period, possibly originating in Athens. Found in all parts of the Mediterranean basin, they were particularly popular during the first and second centuries AD.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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.
-
Roman Brilliant Blue Dimpled Glass Jar
3rd-4th century A.D.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £700
Of squat profile with dimples to the equator, gussetted neck, broad mouth with rolled and everted rim; dimple to the underside. 73.2 grams, 80 mm high
From the estate of a late Sheffield, UK, lady, thence by descent 1960-1970; latterly a London, Mayfair, UK, collection. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Silver Pin with a Figure of a Standing Woman
2nd-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £270
Comprising a tapering body with a Corinthian capital finial, a standing female figure atop the capital, dressed in long robes. 16 grams, 98 mm
Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The pin seems to belong to the group 18 of the Cool's classification. The treatment of the figures in these pins varies greatly, including both the very 'Celtic' looking face on a pin from Cirencester and a Graeco-Roman figure type of Venus standing on a Corinthian capital from London. This great diversity of treatments clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops. -
Roman Bronze Figure of Hercules
2nd-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £1,800 - 2,400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £900
Depicted nude in a contrapposto stance with the weight on his left leg, holding a club on the crook of his left hand with lion skin draped over the arm, and a cup in his right hand. 115 grams, 86 mm
Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12615-234681. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The statuette, perhaps of Gallo-Roman origin, was likely part of a private lararium. It is a provincial work, but is well-proportioned. Unlike other statuettes of this type, Hercules is beardless. The upper part of the head was probably covered by a laurel crown.
