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 man is depicted lying on his back, knees slightly bent and his weight braced on his arms, his head resting on a pillow. The woman is depicted kneeling, as she hovers over the man’s waist. Surrounding the discus is a single concentric, incised circles. The lamp’s two, large volutes are placed between the discuss and nozzle. The reverse features a simple base ring. 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 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.

Object Details