Lucerne with bust of Minerva. Rome, I - III century A.D.

Lucerne with bust of Minerva. Rome, 1st - 3rd century A.D.
Terracotta.
Provenance: Charles Ede Gallery, London, United Kingdom. Private collection, Chicago, USA, acquired from the above on January 8, 1987.
Attached is a copy of the old purchase invoice from the Charles Ede Gallery.
Good state of preservation.
Measurements: 10.6 cm in length.

Roman Lucerne decorated with a bust of Minerva, recognizable by the helmet, characteristic attribute of the goddess. The image is framed by concentric moldings and a decorative border, creating a clear and balanced composition within the circular format typical of Roman oil lamps.

Minerva, the Roman equivalent of Athena, was a divinity associated with wisdom, strategy, the arts and protection. Her presence in a lucerna is particularly suggestive, linking the practical function of illuminating with an image of intelligence, order and divine tutelage. This type of object was part of everyday life, but could also acquire a symbolic value within the domestic space.

The terracotta retains an attractive orange hue, with a good reading of the central relief and the perimeter decoration. Its modern provenance, linked to the Charles Ede Gallery and then to a private collection in Chicago since 1987, provides a particularly valuable traceability.