Roman large and fine double oil lamp from Benghazi

R168

£600.00

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A large and rare brown slip moulded pottery oil lamp with two volute spouts and a tall handle to the back. The handle is decorated with a palmette and the tondo is decorated with a pair of clasped hands.

The clasped hand motif, known as “fede” (faith), was often used by the Romans to signify love or friendship, and also as a symbol of marriage.

Culture
Roman, mid to late 1st Century AD

Size
9.7 x 21.6 cms

Condition
Handle and one spout repaired, light surface chipping and old collection patina as seen in the photographs

Provenance
Ex. collection: Terence Frederick Stanley Mullaly (1927-2020), UK. Terence Mullaly was a widely published art critic, respected as an expert on Venetian and Veronese art among other subjects. During the late 1940’s to early 1950’s Mr Mullaly was involved in archaeological explorations in Sicily and Tripolitania. A small 19th Century printed label on the tondo “871” a further very faint 19th Century label under the base reads: “Benghazi 2871” (legible under ultraviolet light)

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