Roman Terracotta Roof Tile with Dog's Paw Print

Nozzle with quasi-volutes, theatrical mask surrounding the central opening; ring-handle with palmette attachment; base moulded. 220 grams, 13.3 cm



Acquired from Weber, Kohl. Ex private collection, Rhemish, Germany. with Gorny & Mosch, 14 December 2010, lot 499. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11800-206492.

The principal parts of a lamp were the body or reservoir which contained the oil (infundibulum); the flat circular top (discus) on which the design, if any, was placed, sometimes with an ornamented rim (margo), the nozzle, with a hole for the insertion of the wick (rostrum, nasus, myxus), the wick, known as ellydinium, the handle (ansa, manubrium).

Mould made, filling-hole to the centre, slim ogival nozzle with simplified shoulder-volutes, discus iconography a bust of Sol with seven rays radiating from his head, base with one circular groove and impressed Greek letter H (capital eta). 54 grams, 84 mm



From a 1990s German collection. Ex London, UK, gallery.

The lamp belongs to the Loeschke type V (Bailey type C), group without handle. The main difference of this group from the Loeschke type IV is the shape of the volutes decorating the nozzle. They are called ‘shoulder-volutes’ because they end the lamp’s shoulder that they prolong. The decorative motif is Sol with radiate nimbus, already visible on these lamps and other Roman artworks in mid 1st century A.D.

With broad body and dimpled base, swept curve shoulder and tapering neck, everted rolled rim. 12.1 grams, 63 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.