Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Diana & Actaeon

Object Description

An ancient Roman, terracotta, oil lamp, featuring a decorated concave discuss and an angular, volute nozzle. The discuss depicts a gentle scene between a stag and a seated woman. The stag has turned his antlered head towards the female, their gaze locked. Considering the subject matter; a stag and a superior female, the scene might depict the myth of Diana and Actaeon. Surrounding the discus are two concentric, incised circles. The lamp’s two, large volutes are placed between the discuss and nozzle. The reverse features a simple, recessed base ring. This lamp belongs to the Loeschcke type I B/C, characterised by the angle of the volutes to nozzle protrusions.

Date: Circa 1st – 2nd century AD

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 loss of detailing to the discus but scene still visible. Some loss of glaze. Repair to discus and base.

Object Details