Ancient Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Erotic Scene

Object Description

A Roman terracotta oil lamp featuring a large, rounded body with a short, rounded nozzle. The discus and the nozzle are separated by three lines interspersed by two dots. A pierced lug handle is placed at the rear of the lamp, decorated with two vertical grooves. The discus, framed by two circular grooves, presents an erotic scene between a man and a woman. The woman is depicted lying on a bed to right, and the man is kneeling behind her, holding up one leg by resting her foot on his shoulder. There is a filling hole to the lower right of the discus. To the reverse, the maker’s mark, AVF FRON below an ovolo, has been stamped on the base, which is marked by a simple circular groove.

Date: Circa AD 130-170

Object History

Madame Suzanne Gozlan then by descent. Madame Suzanne Gozlan (1921-2022), Doctor of History and Archaeology, professor at the Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs de Chartres and lecturer at the University of Paris, Sorbonne.

Object Condition

Very fine. Some wear to the surface but scene still clear.

Object Details