ROMAN LAMP

1

A fine example of a copper-alloy lid from the focus of a 1st to 2nd century oil lamp. This piece, which is intricately-moulded and three-dimensional in form, depicts Cupid/Eros riding a dolphin. There are a number of oil lamps in the British Museum collection which show the deity and at least one (see no. 3926) which depicts him riding a dolphin (D.M. Bailey; 1988; pp. 15). Perhaps the closest parallel for this piece, however, is the central image on the mid 2nd century mosaic in room N7 at Fishbourne Palace, Sussex (see. B. Cunliffe ed.; 1971; pl.XLVII).The figure of Cupid is depicted sitting on the back of the dolphin, his legs straddling the animal. He leans backwards slightly and this, in conjunction with the pose of the dolphin, gives the impression of a downward motion. The facial features are visible, but as with the rest of the piece, have lost a lot of their detail due to corrosion. The hair is also visible and comes to a point at the top. The figure is naked and the form of the chest and torso are well-moulded. The arms are held down by the figure's side, the hands resting on the lower part of the thighs, just above the knees. A small pair of wings extends backwards from the upper part of the back; these have become bent by post-depositional processes.As on the Fishbourne mosaic, the dolphin is heavily stylised. It points downwards at approximately twenty-five degrees from horizontal. The head is large; has a pointed snout; large eyes; and a fin on each side, upon which cupid's feet sit. The body tapers backwards towards the now-missing tail. The dolphin sits on a (slightly damaged) pedestal of sub-circular section and adjoining the back of this pedestal is a loop handle.The base of the piece consists of a circular plate, on either side of which is a small circular hole; these may have been designed to allow the unimpeded flow of oxygen to the lamp. A copper-alloy rivet of sub-square section sits within a hole at the centre of the base, protruding slightly on the underside and presumably acting as a means of attachment to the lamp.The object measures 66.7mm high, 34.6mm wide at the base and 61.6mm from front to back; it weighs 114.34g.