193 - Roman oil lamp. Late Empire, 3rd–5th centuries AD.

Roman oil lamp. Late Empire, 3rd–5th centuries AD. Molded terracotta. Provenance: Family bequest from Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection assembled beginning in the 1950s by successive generations of the family through purchases at European galleries and auction houses. Measurements: 9.6 cm in length. Weight: 106 g. Roman terracotta oil lamp with an oval body and an elongated spout, featuring a raised rear appendage serving as a handle. It has a central fuel hole surrounded by concentric rows of small dotted motifs, while the channel leading to the spout is decorated with incised parallel lines. It retains traces of reddish hues on the light-colored clay surface and signs of blackening around the combustion hole. Oil lamps were one of the primary lighting systems in the Roman world. During the Late Empire, their production was characterized by a wide variety of shapes and decorative motifs, with a particular emphasis on geometric compositions and ornamentation created using molds. This example reflects that tradition of functional pottery, in which the decoration is integrated into the structure of the vessel.