Object Description
An ancient Roman, terracotta, oil lamp with a captivating galloping stag design. The lamp is mould-made, and features a ring handle with three notched incisions where it attaches at the top. There is a flat shoulder with a ring of ovolos, and then a smooth concentric band encircling the discus. The stag faces to the left, with it’s forelegs reared. It has textured fur, depicted through linear incisions, detailed antlers and facial features, a short flicked tail, and cloven hooves. A large arrow-headed spear pierces through the body of the stag in dramatic fashion. A central filling whole sits just bellow the stag, with a smaller air hole in the lower field. The nozzle is heart shaped with a two braided bands and ring of ovolos curving around the underside. The base of the lamp is demarcated by a small circular foot and further concentric bands.
The form of the lamp aligns with the type ‘Loeschcke VIII; Bussière form D X 1, variation c, as defined by Jean Bussière and Birgitta Lindros Wohl in the ‘J Paul Getty Museum Ancient Lamp Typology’.
Date: Circa AD 138 to AD 215