Object Description
A Roman, North African, red-ware oil lamp featuring an elongated oval body and a decorated discus. A raised ridge surrounds the discuss, which continues around the large nozzle hole to form a broad canal. A solid spike like handle, which is flattened on each side, sits at the top of the lamp and the base is supported with a ring foot. The discus, with two filling holes on either side, is decorated with two fish, depicted side-by-side. Their bodies are beautifully decorated, with dotted motifs and striations indicating their scales. The shoulder is enriched with alternating geometric and floral motifs in relief. The base is marked with two concentric circles, acting as a maker’s mark.
This oil lamp resembles Atlante type X; Hayes type II
Date: Circa 4th – 5th century AD