Preview
Creation Date
3rd–6th centuries
Geography
North Africa
Culture
Roman, Byzantine
Medium
Terracotta, African red slip ware
Dimensions
3 3/4 × 2 7/16 × 1/4 in. (9.5 × 6.2 × 0.6 cm)
1.11 oz. (31.5 g)
Credit Line
Bequest of David P. Harris ('46), 2020
Accession Number
2020.284
Provenance
Purchased by David P. Harris from Julia Schottlander (Tetragon) in London on June 13, 1992.
Condition
This object is a fragment that has broken off from a lamp. The left and right edge of the fragment is smooth and cleanly broken off from the lamp. The top and bottom of the fragment have rougher edges indicating a less clean break. The exterior of the fragment has remnants of African red slip. The upper three-fourths of the fragment has minimal wear of the slip with minimal erosion of the slip based on the faded and scratched parts that reveal the original tan color of the terracotta. The bottom fourth has more wear on the slip as larger chunks of the burnt orange slip are missing and larger portions of the tan terracotta base are revealed. The border of the central circle has a significant amount of the material missing. On the bottom right, a sliver of the border remains intact with signs of rubbing as the symbols are worn down and smoothed out.
Park Penrod (’24), October 2023
Description
Terracotta lamps were a very common object for a household during the 3rd–6th centuries. Lamps such as this one would have been the primary light source for the house. The relatively cheap production would have allowed for these lamps to be mass-produced. The process of creating these lamps involved a two-piece mold, a top and bottom, that would have been filled with the region’s naturally found clay which explains the fragment’s reddish-orange color. An application of slip would have been applied as well to cover the lamp to ensure a seamless bond between the pieces.
The front of the fragment contains two primary areas of decoration. The first is the central circle shape. The lamb depicted here is in side profile with the body angled toward the right side of the fragment. The most characteristic aspect of the lamb is the four legs with hooves and the dotted pattern on the body, suggesting a textured coat. From this side profile, other features of a lamb such as ears, eyes, and tail are also apparent. In Christianity the lamb is symbolic of Jesus Christ. Directly above and below the lamb are two filling holes.
The second area of decoration is a border around the lamb that contains a three-symbol pattern. The first symbol at the bottom right is a heart-like shape. This symbol also appears by itself in the field directly below the lamb. The second symbol is a concentric circle design with a dotted pattern around the perimeter. This symbol plays an apotropaic role to prevent and avert evil. The third symbol, broken off at the top left, is an almond-shaped motif. These symbols form a protective border around the lamb.
The function of the lamp as a light source also projects this idea of warding off evil. Light in the Bible is seen as a contrast to darkness and portrays meanings that reflect who Christ was. Christ, in John 8:12, is referred to as the “light of the world”. Therefore, the function of a lamp parallels who Christ was and functions as a deterrent to evil and darkness by providing light in a dark area. All these features have deep ties to Christian iconography which allow for an understanding of how this piece functioned.
Park Penrod (’24)