Delphiniform Terracotta Lamp with Geometric Relief and Dolphin Handle

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Description: 

Delphiniform Terracotta Lamp with Geometric Relief and Dolphin Handle

Greek

terracotta: mold-made, fabric: fine brown clay with mica and some inclusions. Munsell: 7.5 YR 5/2 brown
height 4.1 cm
length 1.3 cm
width 7.4 cm
base diameter 3.3~4.1 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #69, PSU 019 (34)

 

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This fictile, delphiniform lamp has a medium-length, decorated nozzle which is missing. The top is highly decorated w/ flowing forms. The pierced side-projecting handle is in the shape of a recognizable dolphin. Shape: Round-bodied lamp with long, extended nozzle and pierced lug on one side (raised, slightly triangular, and formed in shape of a dolphin); teardrop-shaped ring base; central fill hole in concave discus. Decoration: Relief decoration on top. Circle of small raised knobs surrounding fill hole; stylized ivy pattern on shoulder; pair of volutes at juncture of nozzle and body that extend down axis of nozzle; between volutes is a stylized winged caduceus in relief; bands of diagonal lines flanking volutes. Inscriptions: None. Condition: Mostly complete; end of nozzle broken off; some encrustation/residue; minor chips; crack on bottom; large chip from head of dolphin.

Protocol: 
Portland State University Middle East Studies Center - Public Access
Community: 
Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Category: 
Ceramics, Utilitarian Objects
Keywords: 
Lamp
Rights: 
Image reproduced with permission from Portland State University Middle East Studies Center. The institutions that house the specific Medieval Portland objects ultimately hold the rights to their image and reproduction; the images are provided here as a courtesy by those institutions and are for non-profit, educational use only.