Roman Pottery Oil Lamp with Lion Relief Tondo

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A lovely, mold-made pottery oil lamp featuring a discoid body, a flat shoulder, a recessed central tondo, a tab-form handle, and a protruding wick, all sitting upon a ring-shaped base. Enveloped in orange slip, the ancient vessel presents the relief image of a lion in its central tondo. The beast faces left, showcasing a thick body, straight legs, a lush mane, and a sinuous tail as a pair of petite fill holes sit above and below him. An intricate border frames the fierce animal, displaying a pattern of concentric circle motifs terminating in triangular designs that point inward toward the spout. Size: 5" L x 2.9" W x 1.9" H (12.7 cm x 7.4 cm x 4.8 cm)

Oil lamps such as this were filled with olive oil, had a wick placed inside the spout, and were used to light homes, shops, holy places, and many other locations throughout the Roman world. Oil lamps were certainly among the most ubiquitous objects in antiquity; however, finely crafted examples like this one were more unusual. Despite the prevalence of terracotta lamps, bronze oil lamps are among some of the rarest artifacts to come from the Roman Empire. Their scarcity, however, is a reminder of how everyday life would have been for the people who used them.

In the classical world, lions symbolized power, wealth, and might. They were famously featured in many ancient myths, perhaps the most famous being that of Hercules (Herakles) slaying the Nemean lion for his first labor. The lion's fur was believed to be impenetrable to attacks since according to legend it was made of gold and its claws were far sharper than swords with the power to slice through armor. In the end, Hercules defeated the lion by strangling it and wore its skin.

Lions were also favorite iconography for buildings, coins, and statues. Examples include the Lion Gate to the Citadel of Mycenae, the Terrace of the Lions on the island of Delos, and the lion hunt mosaic from Pella featuring Alexander engaged in a lion hunt. Of course, lions were also used in the Roman arenas where they would fight other animals, such as tigers and bears.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#137677
Condition Report: Repaired with heavy restoration to half of underside of body. Expected nicks, abrasions, and softening of detail, commensurate with age and use. Areas of fire darkening. Otherwise, very nice with lovely earthen deposits throughout.