Lighting DevicesRoman1st century BCE

Miniature Volute Lamp

1-75 CE

Description

Orange-buff fabric with slightly mottled orange-red slip. Depressed discus defined by four raised ridges. Central filling hole. Ring base with illegible inscription composed of several curvy lines. A perforated vertical handle protrudes from the rear at the level of the resevoir. Above the handle is a handle ornament in the shape of a leaf with a stylized palmette decoration, which protrudes outward and upward at a slight angle. Long nozzle with flaring end, flanked by two volutes; small air hole just above wick hole. Traces of burning around nozzle hole. Incised, curved lines continue to underside of nozzle and meet at a point.

Classification

Lighting Devices

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Period

Roman Imperial period, Early

Century

1st century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

3 x 2.9 x 7.2 cm (1 3/16 x 1 1/8 x 2 13/16 in.)

Provenance

Part of the original 1943 McDaniel gift to the Classics Department. A lamp referred to as "Miniature Red-glaze Lamp. Hellenistic." is listed on a non-comprehensive list of McDaniel objects dated April 30, 1947.