Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Wreath

2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

4 5/8 in. (138 grams, 11.8 cm).

Lug handle to rear, deep discus with a dome filling hole, another filling hole to the side; wide shoulder with low-relief laurel wreath; low basal ring and incised maker's mark in Greek letters (ΗΙϹΧΛ).

Provenance

Acquired on the European art market, 1980s.
English private collection.

Literature

See The Getty Museum, inv.no.83.AQ.377.259, for similar discus motif, in J., Lindros Wohl, B., Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 2017, nos.378-379, p.267, type Loeschcke VIII; Bussière form D X 4a.

Footnotes

This form of lamps is characterised by their shoulder decoration - a laurel wreath. This decoration may be treated realistically or be stylised. Both groups appear on lamps found in Italy. The hypothesis that they might only be African imports is contradicted by the signature on many lamps of L.C A E S A E, a prolific Italic lamp maker (late Antonine and early Severan); his products are scarce in North Africa.

CONDITION

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LOT 0661