Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Erotic Scene

Object Description

An ancient Roman, terracotta, oil lamp, featuring a decorated concave discuss and a rounded volute nozzle. The discuss depicts an erotic scene between a man and a woman, lying on a bed. The woman is depicted reclining on her back, slightly propped up by her left arm, her right arm behind her shoulder. The man is kneeling in front of her, holding her left leg. Surrounding the discus is a single incised circle. The lamp’s two, large volutes are placed between the discuss and nozzle. The reverse features a simple base ring with the maker’s mark MVNTREPT in the middle. This lamp belongs to the Loeschcke type IV, characterised by rounded shoulders and nozzle. Dates for this style of lamp are given from the reign of Vespasian, circa AD 69, to Hadrian, circa AD 138.

Date: Circa AD 90 – 140

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 discus but scene still clear.

Object Details