Important Roman Oil Lamp with the Goddess Victoria and Dancing Lares

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 12.3 cm long

Price: 10 000 Euro

Ref: 7055

Provenance: From the estate of the French archaeologist Suzanne Gozlan (1921-2022), professor at the l’Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs de Chartres and lecturer at the Parisian Sorbonne.

Condition: Intact

Description: Large, important oil lamp of the Loeschke IV type with a round nozzle and volutes on the neck that end in buttons. The round mirror is decorated with a tremendously detailed relief, which depict a winged Victoria and two Lares. The goddess of victory floats with a tropaion above her left shoulder in front of a garland-decorated consecration altar on which a victory shield (Clypeus) is placed under a cornucopia. Her gaze is to the left to the altar. Two youthful Lares are dancing on the left and right of her, they hold crowns above their heads and each one a lantern in their hand. Remains of the corroded wick are still preserved in the filling hole behind Victoria. The mirror with the image area is framed by grooved circles. A rare, important terracotta oil lamp.