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THBOpulent Roman Bronze Oil Lamp w/ Deity Atop Lion-Paw Stand
About Seller
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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About Auction
LiveMar 20, 2025
Explore a world of classical antiquities and ethnographic masterpieces, with treasures from every corner of the globe. Discover Egyptian relics, Greek and Roman artifacts, Etruscan elegance, Near Eastern wonders, and Asian heritage. Marvel at Pre-Columbian marvels, Native American artistry, African tribal expressions, and Oceanic cultural gems. Spanish Colonial legacies, Russian craftsmanship, and a spectrum of fine and visual arts await, offering a captivating journey through history and artistry, connecting cultures across time. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (266)
- Lot Description
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. An exceptional bronze oil lamp with an elaborate handle of acanthus leaves surrounding a deity, perhaps Bacchus, Mercury, or Apollo, all atop a hexagonal, lion-footed stand. The lamp presents a large fill hole surrounded by incised, concentric circles with an extending volute spout flanked by rosettes on the side opposite the handle. Dramatically curving upward, the tubular handle boasts a detailed trio of openwork acanthus leaves from which emerges the youthful bust of a nude deity showcasing flowing hair and a serene expression as he grasps a circular object, perhaps a piece of fruit, in his right hand. The windowless rooms of Roman buildings required artificial illumination, which was frequently provided by oil lamps. While inexpensive terracotta lamps were widely used, bronze lamps, like this example, were luxury items produced for wealthier people. Enveloped in a sage-hued patina, this is a truly exceptional example from the Roman Empire! Size: 11.2" L x 9.3" W x 12.1" H (28.4 cm x 23.6 cm x 30.7 cm)
Note how the fruit held by the deity resembles an apple, suggesting that this bust may represent the Roman messenger god Mercury (Greek Hermes). According to myth, Jupiter entrusted Mercury with delivering Eris’s Golden Apple of Discord to Paris before his famous Judgment.Oil lamps such as this would be filled with olive oil, have a wick placed inside the spout, and used to light homes, shops, holy places, and many other locations throughout the Roman world; they were one of the most ubiquitous objects in antiquity. In some cases, oil lamps served as a status symbol. Wealthy families used and displayed lamps made of metal, a higher quality material, lamps with intricate or exotic imagery, and lamps with multiple nozzles which burned more fuel, making the lamp more costly.
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. Bronze examples like this were only affordable to upper class households due to the inherent cost and time associated with the processing, refinement, and ultimately casting of bronze. This particular example is much finer than the average, with its meticulous attention to detail and sturdy composition, and was probably created for and belonged to a member of the Roman elite who would have passed it down as a family heirloom. Members of the lower classes, therefore, were only able to afford simple yet effective pottery oil lamps.
Provenance: ex-Apollo Art Auctions, London, UK; ex-private London, UK collection since the 1990s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#191850Condition
Stand is missing 2 feet, right and top leaves, and object in figure's hand. Fissure with some loss near fill hole, as well as some small punctures to lamp and top of stand. Chips, nicks, and abrasions to surface commensurate with age, but otherwise, nice remaining detail and rich patina.
- Shipping Info
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