Late High Empire Terracotta Romanian lantern

Roman Lantern, IV - VI centuries AD.

Historical period: Late High Empire.
Origin: North Africa.
Material: Terracotta.
Dimensions: length 105 x 54 mm.
Weight: 77 g.

Object Description: Terracotta olear lamp with an oval or pear-shaped body, circular nozzle, a filling hole, central disc and handle. Contour decorated with a simple and elegant relief, typically abstract, with a linear stepped pattern around the edge. The edge and the lamp’s disc are separated by a rib that continues around the conical mouth. Solid conical tongue-shaped handle without perforation at the top of the lamp. A circular ring at the base allows it to stand upright. These oval/pear-shaped lamps are sometimes referred to by some authors as the “slipper” type.

Condition: good, no restorations. Minor chips and scratches, wear on some fine details, inlays and deposits of sediment on the surface and inside cavity.

Material and origin: These lamps were generally made of terracotta (fired clay) using molds for standardized production. This particular style was widely produced in Roman North Africa and exported throughout the Mediterranean.

The lamps could tell 1,001 stories... They have guided great thoughts through the night, they have watched with solitary passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in direct contact with a disappeared world, with the people who were once warmed by its glow. Today it remains a lasting symbol of man’s desire to conquer darkness.

Provenance: A. Gallery specialized in ancient art, 2002. Previously, Ex. collection of I. K., Jerusalem, 1980s. This lamp belongs to a larger lot of lamps from different historical periods. The object is shipped with a copy of the gallery’s authenticity certificate where it was acquired as well as the catalog copy if the object was included in it.

Sale ONLY within Europe (EU).
See details and dimensions in the description and attached images. Due to factors such as the lighting at the time the photos were taken, the color may vary slightly from the original. The object(s) is accompanied by copies of acquisition and authenticity certificates and catalog copies if the object(s) appear in them.
The data and other information present are provided by the Gallery from which the object(s) were acquired. According to this information: The pieces that form the catalog, as a single item, collection, or lot, are considered genuine, ethically and professionally marketed, with Spanish and foreign specialists from the different admission committees of National and International Antiquities Fairs.
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