Terracotta oil lamp
Vessberg Type 20. Mold-made. Flat, lentoid shape, with impressed decoration. Large, central filling hole, surrounded by a circular groove, then by a star pattern of nine lunettes; within lunettes, small, impressed circles with raised dots (three lunettes containing a single circle, two containing two circles, and three containing three circles); towards the edge of top, a stylized chevron pattern comprising a central circular groove, flanked by small, impressed dots; the pattern is indistinct around the front half of the lamp to either side of the wick hole. On the bottom, at center a plain, flat base, surrounded by two circular grooves flanking a row of impressed dots; and, at front and back, two projecting sets of two impressed lines, each containing a row of small, impressed dots.
Intact.
Intact.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta oil lamp
- Period: Early Byzantine
- Date: late 5th–6th century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Terracotta
- Dimensions: Overall: 3/4 x 3 3/8 in. (1.9 x 8.6 cm)
- Classification: Terracottas
- Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
- Object Number: 74.51.2048
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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Roman
ca. 100 BCE
Greek or Roman
3rd century BCE–3rd century CE
Roman
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Roman
1st–2nd century CE
Roman, Egyptian
2nd century CE
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