4512 - A collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Roman oil lamps, 2nd–5th century CE. This collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Roman oil lamps varies in size and is decorated with a

A collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Roman oil lamps, 2nd–5th century CE. This collection of Tunisian Terra Chiara Roman oil lamps varies in size and is decorated with a range of figural and ornamental motifs. Four of the lamps depict animals on the discus, including two scenes featuring a running dog. One of these depicts a dog chasing a rabbit. The second discus shows a dog running alone, characterized by its prominently enlarged ears. Both are depicted in profile and in motion. A third lamp depicts a reclining lion, next to a small plant or tree. The fourth animal scene shows a running lion or boar; the precise identification is uncertain. The two smaller lamps bear different motifs: one depicts a side profile of a figure wearing a headdress or ornamented hairstyle and neck jewelry, while the other features an architectural motif in the form of a column or pillar. Four of the six lamps have decorated shoulders, incorporating a variety of geometric and plant motifs, including triangles, floral designs, spade-shaped elements, and teardrop-shaped forms. L. 10–14.5 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. [6]