Roman, Imperial Period, ca. late 1st to 2nd century CE. A stunning cast-bronze oil lamp depicting the deity Faunus on the end of the handle. Faunus’ expertly-stylized countenance features almond-shaped eyes, a petite nose and mouth, a pair of curved horns flanking an incised wavy coiffure, and a hooved leg draped beneath each perky ear. The pear-shaped lamp body has a rounded, hooked wick spout, raised shoulders which surround a recessed tondo adorned with a heart-shaped fill hole, and a semicircular handle, all supported atop a concave conical foot. Oil lamps such as this would be filled with olive oil, have a wick placed inside the spout, and used to light homes, shops, holy places, and many other locations throughout the Roman world; they were one of the most ubiquitous objects in antiquity. Enveloped in a sage-hued patina, this is a truly exceptional example from the Roman Empire! Size: 7" L x 2.75" W x 5.375" H (17.8 cm x 7 cm x 13.7 cm).

The Roman deity Faunus has become synonymous in literature with the Greek Pan, a satyr with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a goat, standing upright on hooved legs and sporting a pair of horns from atop a hairy head. His association with nature, animals, and music made representations of Faunus a regular sight within the Roman populace. Given the representation of Faunus on this vessel, it may have belonged to an individual who was an advocate for natural preservation, a scholar of the natural world, or perhaps just someone who enjoyed the outdoors.

Despite the prevalence of terracotta lamps, bronze oil lamps are among some of the rarest artifacts to come from the Roman Empire. Their scarcity, however, is a reminder of how everyday life would have been for the people who used them. Bronze examples like this were only affordable to upper class households due to the inherent cost and time associated with the processing, refinement, and ultimately casting of bronze. This particular example is much finer than the average, with its meticulous attention to detail and sturdy composition, and was probably created for and belonged to a member of the Roman elite who would have passed it down as a family heirloom. Members of the lower classes, therefore, were only able to afford simple yet effective pottery oil lamps.

A similar example with a horse-head handle hammered at Sotheby's New York Antiquities auction on December 7th, 2005 (lot 72) for $10,800: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2005/antiquities-n08137/lot.72.html

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#132477

Underside of body and wick spout repaired from several pieces with some new material, resurfacing, overpainting, and small losses along break lines. Expected surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, with small nicks and areas of roughness to body, handle, face, and base. Minor fading to some details, otherwise excellent. Light earthen deposits as well as great green patina throughout.