Roman Oil Lamp with Helmetted Bust of Mars

Late 4th century AD. A plaster mould-made terracotta lamp with a pierced conical handle, slightly oval body, convex shoulder with vine scroll, separated from the discus by a ridge that surrounds both discus and nozzle top, leaving a long broad channel between them; two filling-holes of equal size right and left of the discus image, decorated with the helmetted bust of Mars looking left and dressed in an exomis, leaving his right shoulder uncovered; raised base-ring with a narrow ring, which continues into the lower part of the handle. See Bussière, J., Lindros Wohl, B., Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 2017, no.490, for the type. 170 grams, 12.6cm (5"). Property of an Essex gentleman; acquired on the UK art market; previously in a German collection collection formed since 1970. Atlante type VIII B variant. These lamps are characterised by their convex shoulders decorated mainly with relief foliage scrolls. The type originated in North Africa, mainly in workshops like Henchires-Srira (modern Tunisia) where numerous plaster moulds with shoulder-scroll decoration have been found. According to some scholars, the ones with pierced handles are earlier. They can be dated to the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
Condition Report: Fine condition.