Terracotta oil lamp

Unknown

late 5th–6th century CE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

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.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 5th–6th century CE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76