Ovoid Terracotta Lamp with Insect Motif

Description: 

Ovoid Terracotta Lamp with Insect Motif

Late 3rd-early 4th century CE

terracotta: mold-made, fabric: fine gray clay with some inclusions
height 4.1 cm
length 7.9 cm
width 6.3 cm

Portland State University Middle East Studies Center
Bogue Lamp Collection, Lamp ID #83, PSU 129 (152)

 

Professor Anne Nicogorski, Willamette University, cited with permission

This ovoid, grey lamp is highly decorated with a stylized design of an insect, perhaps. There is an insect-like head facing the rear behind the fill hole. The large wick-hole is pierced at the apex. The bottom bears a potter's mark which resembles an asterisk. Shape: Egg-shaped lamp with flat base; central fill hole; wick hole at narrow end of egg. Decoration: Relief decoration on top consisting of a high relief frog or insect head opposite nozzle; extending from head is square band of ladder pattern surrounding fill hole; herringbone pattern molding on shoulders; diagonal ladder pattern behind head; incised diamond pattern on top of nozzle, with small circles in diamonds. Inscriptions: Potter's mark on base: large eight-armed asterisk with rounded terminations. Condition: Nearly complete; part of nozzle broken away; otherwise worn, minor surface chips; some burning around nozzle.