Terracotta oil lamp

Unknown

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

Vessberg Type 20. Mold-made. Broad, 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 four containing three circles); two more circular grooves towards edge of top, bordering a band of small, impressed circles with raised dots; the outer groove broken at front by the wick hole. On the bottom, at center three small, impressed circles with raised dots surrounded by a circular groove; another circular band of small, impressed circles with raised dots within a circular groove; and, at front and back, two parallel linear grooves flanked by small, impressed circles with raised 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