4510 - A collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Oil Lamps, 2nd–5th century CE. Four Tunisian terra chiara Roman oil lamps, dated to the 2nd–5th century CE, are decorated

A collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Oil Lamps, 2nd–5th century CE. Four Tunisian terra chiara Roman oil lamps, dated to the 2nd–5th century CE, are decorated on the discus with figural motifs depicting individuals in side profile. The first lamp features a bust in profile wearing what appears to be a helmet or close-fitting cap, with the shoulders adorned with stamped geometric designs and concentric-circle motifs. The second depicts an apparently female figure in profile, distinguished by an elaborate headdress and jewelry, including a necklace around the neck. The third shows a figure in profile with long, stylized hair falling vertically down the back of the neck; the torso is adorned with a patterned garment or jewelry incorporating circular and geometric motifs, while the face is rendered schematically with a prominent nose and simplified eye. The fourth lamp depicts a figure in profile with typically Roman-style hair and draped clothing. Across the four lamps, the figures are distinguished by their hairstyles or headdresses and are decoratively dressed in garments. L. 12.4–14.5 cm Provenance: Private Dutch collection, collected between 1970 and 1974 by a collector working for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stationed in North Africa. [4]