Ancient Roman Terracotta Nice Oil Lamp with Amazon riding a horse. 1st century AD. 11.4 cm length. Spanish Import License.
Oil Lamp with Amazon riding a horse.
Ancient Roman, 1st century AD.
Terracotta.
11. 4 cm length.
Condition: Good condition.
Provenance:
- Private collection, France, 1960 - 1970.
- Private collection, Madrid, 2023.
Description:
Roman lamp made of terracotta and decorated with a figurative motif in relief. The body is shaped like a deep circular bowl, without handle, with the upper part concave with the feeding hole located in the center, without interrupting the decoration. The beak, which houses the hole for the wick, takes the shape of an arrow with a triangular head and curved sides, topped with small relief volutes. It is decorated with the image of an injured Amazon still mounted on her horse, holding the reins and raising her right hand to her head, in a conventional gesture usually related to this theme. It is a dynamic scene despite its schematism, well constructed and with special attention to detail, as shown by the magnificent representation of the horse, which bends its legs as it falls to the ground. The image is framed by a circular molding also in relief. An identical, although fragmented, skylight remains in London (fig. 1) .
Lucernes or ancient Roman lamps were small utensils, usually made of terracotta, used by the ancient Romans to provide artificial light. They were fed with olive oil and had from one to a dozen wicks. Some had handles, so they could be transported from room to room, and could also be carried by actors in plays or by participants in ritual activities.
Roman lanterns present a wide variety of typologies and ornamental motifs, from the simplest vegetal designs to figurative representations and even scenes, including images of gladiators, mythological motifs and erotic scenes. These pieces were manufactured in large quantities, using molds both for their construction and for the relief decoration.
Bibliography:
- BAILEY, D. M. Greek and Roman Pottery Lamps. The Trustees of the British Museum. 1963.
- BAILEY, D. M. A Catalog of the Lamps in the British Museum. British Museum Press. nineteen ninety six.
- PERLZWEIG, J. Lamps of the Roman Period: First to Seventh Century After Christ. Athenian Agora, vol. VII. American School of Classical Studies at Athens. 1961.
Parallel:
Fig. 1 Fragment of a lucerne with a wounded amazon. Roman, first half of the 1st century AD. Terracotta, 8. 2 cm. British Museum, London, inv. 1868,0110. 671.
Notes:
- The piece includes authenticity certificate.
- The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) - If the piece is destined outside the European Union a substitution of the export permit should be requested, can take between 1-2 weeks maximum.
- The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.
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Oil Lamp with Amazon riding a horse.
Ancient Roman, 1st century AD.
Terracotta.
11. 4 cm length.
Condition: Good condition.
Provenance:
- Private collection, France, 1960 - 1970.
- Private collection, Madrid, 2023.
Description:
Roman lamp made of terracotta and decorated with a figurative motif in relief. The body is shaped like a deep circular bowl, without handle, with the upper part concave with the feeding hole located in the center, without interrupting the decoration. The beak, which houses the hole for the wick, takes the shape of an arrow with a triangular head and curved sides, topped with small relief volutes. It is decorated with the image of an injured Amazon still mounted on her horse, holding the reins and raising her right hand to her head, in a conventional gesture usually related to this theme. It is a dynamic scene despite its schematism, well constructed and with special attention to detail, as shown by the magnificent representation of the horse, which bends its legs as it falls to the ground. The image is framed by a circular molding also in relief. An identical, although fragmented, skylight remains in London (fig. 1) .
Lucernes or ancient Roman lamps were small utensils, usually made of terracotta, used by the ancient Romans to provide artificial light. They were fed with olive oil and had from one to a dozen wicks. Some had handles, so they could be transported from room to room, and could also be carried by actors in plays or by participants in ritual activities.
Roman lanterns present a wide variety of typologies and ornamental motifs, from the simplest vegetal designs to figurative representations and even scenes, including images of gladiators, mythological motifs and erotic scenes. These pieces were manufactured in large quantities, using molds both for their construction and for the relief decoration.
Bibliography:
- BAILEY, D. M. Greek and Roman Pottery Lamps. The Trustees of the British Museum. 1963.
- BAILEY, D. M. A Catalog of the Lamps in the British Museum. British Museum Press. nineteen ninety six.
- PERLZWEIG, J. Lamps of the Roman Period: First to Seventh Century After Christ. Athenian Agora, vol. VII. American School of Classical Studies at Athens. 1961.
Parallel:
Fig. 1 Fragment of a lucerne with a wounded amazon. Roman, first half of the 1st century AD. Terracotta, 8. 2 cm. British Museum, London, inv. 1868,0110. 671.
Notes:
- The piece includes authenticity certificate.
- The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) - If the piece is destined outside the European Union a substitution of the export permit should be requested, can take between 1-2 weeks maximum.
- The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.
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