Lamp: erotic scene, probably modern
1st century
Description
Mold-made lamp with voluted rounded-tipped nozzle, grooved handle at the rear. The lamp stands on a slightly raised, circular base. The shoulder is rounded, and a circular groove surrounds a concave discus. The discus is decorated with a scene of lovemaking featuring a male-female pair on a bed; the woman is kneeling on her left leg, supports herself on her hands, and looks back at her partner; the man is kneeling and approaches the woman from behind, holding her right leg above his head. There is a filling hole at the bottom of the discus beneath the decoration. The clay fabric is reddish brown. It is notably smooth with evident brush strokes, lending to the likelihood that the lamp is modern. The discus decoration is known from first-century CE Roman lamps; cf. British Museum, 1814,0704.35. Depictions of lovemaking were frequent in Roman art, both public and private, appearing especially in dining settings, including on cups and frescoed walls, in public baths, and on common household items, such as lamps and ceramics. The form of this lamp corresponds with Loeschcke Type IV.
Dimensions
actual: 3.2 x 10.2 x 6.7 cm (1 1/4 x 4 x 2 5/8 in.)
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