Lighting DevicesRoman1st-2nd century CE

Lamp with Actor's Mask

75-150 CE

Description

Buff fabric with reddish chocolate brown slip. Flat bottom enclosed by groove. Dish-shaped reservoir, rounded rim with two ridges enclosing the depressed central discus. The discus is decorated with an actor's mask in relief with a long wig incised with vertical lines, a furrowed brow, exaggerated eyes, and a large, open mouth. Filling hole, to the viewer's left of the mask, cuts off right tip of wig. Small air hole at edge of discus in line with nozzle hole. Rounded semi-circular nozzle. C OPPI RES stamped on bottom; this refers to C Oppius Restitus. Cracking along both sides of handle to middle of base.

Classification

Lighting Devices

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Period

Roman Imperial period

Century

1st-2nd century CE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

5 x 7.5 x 10.45 cm (1 15/16 x 2 15/16 x 4 1/8 in.)

Provenance

Walton Brooks McDaniel, New Jersey (?-1943/46) gift; to the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, (1943/46-2012) transfer; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2012. Note: Walton Brooks McDaniel gave a portion of his collection to the Department of the Classics in 1943 and the rest in 1946. The Collection is named for his late wife, Alice Corinne McDaniel.