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.
Dimensions
11.5 × 6.5 cm (4 1/2 × 2 9/16 in.)
Provenance
Lent by the Misses Katherine B. and Mary D. Upham, March 14, 1908.
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