Roman, Eastern Empire, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A titillating terracotta oil lamp of volute form presenting a flat, annular base, a discoid body, a corseted nozzle, and a flared wick, all enveloped in caramel-hued slip. The ancient piece is adorned with a recessed central tondo featuring the relief image of an erotic scene between 2 lovers. Both nude, the male figure lays semi-recumbent atop a bed, his right arm propping up his torso as his left holds the hair of his female companion, who crouches before him. Idealized images of sexual intercourse, like this example, were associated with notions of pleasure and elite status throughout the Roman empire, thus, the artist has taken great care to demonstrate the splendor of this image by showing a blanket laying at the man's feet, as well as lovely drapery decorating the space above them; the soft texture and luxuriousness of these fabrics clearly conveyed through their gentle folds. The placement of the wick hole, below the bed, is additionally an important attribute. The flame's flickering light would have illuminated the figures, making them appear animated and also served as a double entendre - the couple being quite literally in the flames of passion. Size: 4" L x 2.75" W x 1" H (10.2 cm x 7 cm x 2.5 cm); 5.25" H (13.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Attitudes towards sexuality in Ancient Rome were far more relaxed than they are in Western culture today and representations of various sexual couplings, settings, and positions were commonly found on objects of daily use, such as ceramic lamps (as seen here), silver cups, engraved gemstones, and wall paintings (most famously depicted in the frescoes of Pompeii and Herculaneum). While this level of uninhibited sexual display may seem grotesque to the modern viewer, all levels of Roman society were quite familiar with encountering sexually explicit images within a domestic setting. As sexual acts themselves were considered a gift from the Roman goddess Venus (Greek Aphrodite), these images were less associated with feelings of sin, guilt, or shame, and more so analogous with notions of delight, nobility, and opulence.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Dr. Arnold A. Rogow estate, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s to 1980s

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#164571

Some lightly abraded areas. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressively preserved details.