Lamp in the Form of a Comic Mask

Lamp in the Form of a Comic Mask

Plastic lamp. Terracotta, red micaceous surface. Crack behind lower right leaf of wreath. Slight pitting over lamp and carbon stains around and inside mouth. Lamp in shape of comic masked head with prominent eyebrows, nose and a wide, open mouth. Lower jaw thrust forward to act as large triangular-shaped wick hole. Wreath of leaves frame masked head with large filling hole above hair and a second filling hole situated behind first hole. Slim ridge and groove encircles top of first filling hole. Rounded scoop-shaped base supported by three short, thick, rounded lug forms as legs.

Function: Used to burn oil to provide light or for funerary or votive purposes.

Egypt

Moulding

90.004

c. 100 BCE

42x58 mm

Terracotta

Purchased from Charles Ede Ltd, London, 1990.