Lamp with Sistrum
Roman
Mold made lamp with slightly raised, thick ring base and flat center. Rounded, flaring walls form underside of reservoir. Obvious join marks between underside and rim. Rim slopes very subtly inward and is separated from discus by two narrow grooves. Concave discus is decorated with a sistrum. Small filling hole at lower left of discus. Wide volute nozzle, diamond-shaped at end. Small air hole between volutes at edge of rim. Volutes extend downward to create darts in relief on the sides of the nozzle. Vertical pierced handle with two incised grooves.
Buff-orange fabric. Slip ranges from darkish orange to dark brown, is mottled along underside of reservoir, and has a very dull lustre. Surface is not smooth, either because of granular inclusions in the clay or because of bubbles or pits in the mold.
Terracotta
Roman Imperial period, Early