Early Christian Oil Lamp with Amphora and Pigeon

Culture: Roman/North Africa

Period: 4th-5th century A.D.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 13.2 cm long

Price: 800 Euro

Ref: 7059

Provenance: Belgian private collection, acquired on 17 June 2006 from André de Munter Archeologie in Brussels, Belgium. With the original certificate signed by André de Munter. On the back of the certificate is a label with the stamp of a court inspection dated 26 June 2009 with the signature of the law clerk F. Coene N.

Condition: Intact

Description: Large early Christian oil lamp of the so-called "Red Slip Ware", which was manufactured in late Roman North Africa, probably in today's Tunisia. The long snout with an oval venting hole. In the slightly deepened mirror two pouring holes, in between an amphora on a high foot with a spherical corpus. In the abundantly decorated vase is a heart-shaped seed, from where a plant with large leaves blossoms. In between the leaves sits a pigeon to the right with a heart-shaped leaf in the beak. The shoulder of the lamp is decorated with concentric circles and more dotted, heart-shaped leaves. At the back a rounded tenon for transportation. The lamp stands on a raised foot ring, with two finely engraved concentric circles in the centre.