Lighting DevicesRoman1st-2nd century CE

Lamp with Male Figure

75-125 CE

Description

Mold made lamp with a flat base delineated by a circular groove. A maker's mark on base reads: L M ADIEC. Below this inscription is a small, incuse crescent, pointing upwards. Curved, flaring walls form a mid-volume reservoir while the rim slopes upward, separated from the concave discus by three circular ridges. On the discus a male figure (Apollo?), draped at the waist and with a billowing cape arched above his head. The figure reclines on a swimming dolphin, below which is located the circular filling hole. The nozzle is short and rounded with a horizontal upper edge. A small channel runs between the filling hole on the discus and the horizontal edge of the nozzle. Pierced, vertical handle with a double groove. Orange-tan, micaceous, heavy fabric. Dark orange slip mostly worn away. Striations on surface of lamp appear to be from an attempt at smoothing when the clay was too dry. Classification: D. Bailey, A catalogue of the lamps in the British Museum vol. II (British Museum Publications, 1988), Type P.

Classification

Lighting Devices

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Period

Roman Imperial period

Century

1st-2nd century CE