Terracotta oil lamp

Roman

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171

Vessberg Type 12. Mold-made, with ring handle below large upright triangular attachment. Deeply concave discus with small, central filling hole, surrounded by two concentric raised lines that form the base for a rosette pattern of twenty-one rounded petals. Large volutes flanking nozzle; a bud design in relief between them at front behind the wick hole. On attachment, an acanthus palmette. Raised base ring, and on base three raised concentric circles and a central raised knob.

Intact. Vitreous sheen to slip.

Probably made in Italy, although local imitations of such lamps with a large handle ornament were also produced in Cyprus.

Terracotta oil lamp, Terracotta, Roman

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