Lighting DevicesRoman1st century BCE

Lamp

1st century BCE

Description

Mold made Roman lamp. Raised ring base. Maker's inscription--an upper case N with concentric circles at its ends, one to its left, and a single circle between the lines of the N--on concavity of base. Underside of donut-shaped reservoir curves outward and upward to meet curved rim. Rim covered with small, raised dots in 5 rows. Concave discus offset by a thick, raised ridge. Central filling hole surrounded by another, smaller, raised ridge. Below discus, three separate small concentric circles decorate a stretch of the rim devoid of raised dots. Below these dots is a long nozzle with a flaring, oval end and large, round wick hole. Orangish-tan clay with shiny brick-red slip with a soapy feel. Some traces of burning around wick hole. Nozzle with some vague, dark streaking. Excellent preservation.

Classification

Lighting Devices

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Period

Roman Republican period, Late, to Early Imperial

Century

1st century BCE