Animal Head Terracotta Lamp

Description: 

Animal Head Terracotta Lamp    

terracotta: moldmade, fabric: fine with some inclusions
height 3.5 cm
length 8.0 cm
width 5.2 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #244, PSU 196 (201)

 

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This unique, green glazed lamp was molded in the shape of a long narrow animal head w/ ears and horns. It was probably some mythological creature as it has characteristics of many animals. The fill hole is pierced in the space between the broken horns and the wick hole is pierced at the mouth end.  The point of juncture of the two halves is marked by a crack. Shape: Plastic lamp in the shape of a bull's head; flat triangular base; slightly rounded body profile; small fill hole in center of bull's forehead; wick hole at pointed end, near mouth; handle (?) broken away at wide end of body. Decoration: Glossy light green to yellowish glaze on all surfaces except base. Relief decoration on top consisting of the frontal face of a bull with two horns, two pointed ears shown frontally, slanted almond-shaped eyes, broad rectangular nose, slightly raised dots on forehead (fur? wreath?). Inscriptions: None. Condition:  Nearly complete; recomposed from two pieces (broken horizontally along mold join and mended; possible missing handle; chips from tips of horns and nozzle; worn; some soil encrustation.