Almond Shaped Terracotta Lamp with Human and Animal Relief

Almond Shaped Terracotta Lamp with Human and Animal Relief

5th-6th century CE

terracotta: mold-made, fabric: fine with some inclusions. Munsell: 5 YR 6/6 reddish yellow
height 3.4 cm
length 9.2 cm
width 6.5 cm
hole diameter 0.7 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #198, PSU 060 (88)

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This grey, almond-shaped lamp has a large wick hole. The large loop handle is broken off. The pierced discus is highly decorated. The design includes a standing human form and a cock-headed, four-legged animal standing on its rear legs. Shape: Round-bodied lamp with flat base; rounded body profile; broad concave discus surrounded by raised ridge; small central fill hole; short triangular nozzle, rounded at tip; vertical high-swung strap/ring handle (now missing) -- both attachments preserved. Decoration: Relief decoration on top consisting of partial band of short radiating ridges on shoulder. Relief decoration on discus consisting of standing frontal human figure on the right with upraised left arm; raised dots on body and head; canine or feline on left, in profile to right, standing on hind legs, large frontal eye (circle with central dot); raised ridges around head and along back indicating fur, long pointed tail made of series of raised dots; between figures at bottom is a circle with a central dot and another circle with central dot and radiating lines (sun), and four small filler dots; pattern of raised dots to right of human figure. Inscriptions: None. Condition: Mostly complete; handle missing; minor chips; surface worn; discolored; burning around wick hole and on body.