Almond Shaped Terracotta Lamp with Geometric Relief

Almond Shaped Terracotta Lamp with Geometric Relief

East Christian

terracotta: mold-made, fabric: fine clay with some inclusions, hole diameter 2.2 cm. Munsell: 5 YR 6/6 reddish yellow
height 4.2 cm
length 13.2 cm
width 7.5 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #96, PSU 025 (46)

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This slipper-shaped lamp molded of light-colored material has a large fill hole at the top and a pierced wick hole at the point. The top is highly decorated with geometric designs and the handle is pyramidal and connected at the edge of the rim. Shape: Almond-shaped lamp w/ rounded bottom; sharply carinated body profile; large central fill hole; wick hole at pointed end of body; upraised triangular handle opposite wick hole (appears restored). Decoration: Possible buff slip. Relief decoration on bottom consisting of band of wavy line flanked by raised ridges running along axis of lamp; on top, handle zone offset by two curved ridges; band of dots around edge of lamp; two roundels near handle containing rosettes with curved petals; fields of dots and diagonal hatching between roundels; bands of cable pattern defined by ridges on shoulder; cable pattern also runs along long axis of lamp (forming sort of a cross); two palm branches toward nozzle. Inscriptions: None. Condition: Intact except for handle which appears restored; large chip at tip of nozzle; worn; minor surface chips; burning at nozzle.