An exceptional Roman bronze oil lamp featuring a rounded body leading to a long nozzle with a triangular-shaped tip. The underside of the nozzle is adorned with a palmette design in high relief, connecting seamlessly to the body through a stepped frame. Subtle dot and curved line motifs have been carved across the top of the nozzle. A finely detailed lion mask has been intricately etched with realistic facial features and a textured mane. The mammal projects out from the side of the lamp with its mouth open showing its sharp teeth. The stepped discus is embellished with delicate leaf motifs and grooved incisions. The striking pelta-shaped reflector plate at the rear is decorated with lateral wreaths and a palmette motif. The design extends into vine-like adornments at the base which links to the body through floral terminals. Below, a three-bar caged handle with leaf-designed terminals supports the lamp, while the entire piece rests on a small, ringed foot.
Date: Circa 1st-2nd Century AD Provenance: Acquired on the German art market in 1987. Ex Gorny and Mosch, 18 December 2013. Condition: Very fine condition, deep green and brown/red patination is visible across the surface.
Roman bronze oil lamps would have been produced by casting the precious metal or hammering it into a mould. Bronze was the most popular metal used to create oil lamps, however examples have been found in gold and silver. Whilst bronze was the most common metal used for lamps, they were still something of a rarity even during the Roman period and the majority are believed to have been owned by those of a higher status. Terracotta lamps would have imitated and taken inspiration from bronze lamps and they were available to a larger section of society. Even though bronze makes for a sturdy lamp, fewer examples have survived to this day, in comparison to their terracotta counterparts, because the metal was most likely melted down to be used for another purpose.
To discover more about oil lamps in antiquity, please see our relevant blog post:Lighting the Way
