Roman Pottery Oil Lamp with Bird on Branch (Wilmington, DE)

Roman Pottery Oil Lamp with Bird on Branch

Roman Pottery Oil Lamp with Bird on Branch CULTURE REGION OF ORIGIN Roman Empire. DATE 1st Century CE (probably CE 40-100) DIMENSIONS 8.8 cm (3.4 in.) long 6 cm (2.3 in.) wide. DESCRIPTION Intact. A mould-made Roman pottery oil lamp the discus decorated with a bird possibly a pea hen alighting on a branch with clusters of fruit. The discus is defined by three concentric steps. The nozzle is triangular-ended and voluted. There is a signle small fill hole in the discus an air circulation slit between the discus and nozzle and a large wick hole with evidence of burning around it. The base is flat with no maker s mark. The clay is fine grained and pinkish-buff with much oprange brown slip remaining all over. PROVENANCE Formerly in a Welsh private collection formed between the 1970s and 2008. PUBLISHED Bonhams London ANTIQUITIES 29 April 2009 Lot 308 listed and illustrated on page 175. COMPARISONS www.britishmuseum.com search_the_ collection_database Registration number 1980 1001.1 Greek and Roman Antiquities Catalogue number Q2362 for a very similar example from Cyprus. Visit our website at www.clioancientart.com to see many more fine antiquities in all price ranges.