Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Pegasus Motif

The Roman Empire, c. 100 AD

A beautiful mold-made terracotta oil lamp from the height of the Roman Empire, this elegant piece showcases both artistic charm and everyday functionality. The lamp features a rounded body with a gracefully tapered nozzle and a delicately formed loop handle at the rear for secure handling.

At the center of the discus, a finely rendered Pegasus—mythical winged horse of Greco-Roman legend—stands poised, facing left atop a ground line. The creature is depicted in deep relief, with carefully modeled wings and musculature, exuding strength and elegance. A single filling hole is positioned between its legs at the center of the discus. The perimeter is framed by a band of concentric lines and grooves, lending a refined finish to the design.

Additional details include two parallel incised lines decorating the upper portion of the handle, an impressed ring base, and a shallow concave underside featuring a prominent linear impression at the center.

This lamp is a remarkable example of Roman domestic lighting and iconography, with Pegasus symbolizing divine inspiration, protection, and swiftness—an ideal motif for a household object meant to bring light in both a physical and symbolic sense.

Excellent condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, and minor chip around filling hole, with fading to some finer features, and light encrustations within recessed areas. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 7,8cm x 5,7cm x 4,0cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection.

For a similar example see:

Terracotta oil lamp, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 74.51.2070 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241623)