Rectangular Terracotta Lamp with Five Nozzles and Star Relief

Description: 

Rectangular Terracotta Lamp with Five Nozzles and Star Relief

Late Ptolemaic to Early Roman

terracotta: mold-made, fabric: fine with some inclusions

height 3.5 cm
length 6.7 cm
width 12.2 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #158, PSU 138 (160)

 

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This crude tan lamp is molded in a rectangular form. It has five nozzles protruding from it. Three are in the front and one on either side. The handle is missing and the area around its base is chipped away. There is a large hole between two of the front nozzles on the bottom. Shape: Rectangular bodied lamp with rectangular ring base; straight side walls; flat on top; central fill hole within recessed rectangular area; five nozzles: three along one long side and single nozzles on short ends; single handle on the other long side (now missing). Decoration: Traces of reddish slip.  Raised ridge around fill hole; two raised ridges outlining rectangular discus; two five-point dot stars (one on either side of discus); pair of raised ridges extending from discus to each nozzle; other relief knobs on nozzles; small relief stars or rosettes between nozzles on long side – very worn. Inscriptions: None. Condition: Nearly complete except for handle missing; large chip from top of discus; hole between two nozzles on long side; minor surface chips; very worn.