Lucerne with vine leaf. Rome, 1st - 3rd century A.D.

Lucerne with vine leaf. Rome, 1st - 3rd century A.D.
Terracotta.
Provenance: Private collection, Monaco.
Good state of preservation.
Measurements: 14,5 cm long.

The central disk of this Roman lucerne is decorated with a vine leaf in relief, a motif of Bacchic resonance associated with wine, fertility and the world of the banquet. The scene is completed with a careful border of rosettes and concentric circles, which adds ornamental richness and turns the surface of the lamp into a small decorative field of remarkable visual effect.

The piece retains an intense reddish hue, characteristic of certain terracotta productions, and has an elegant shape, with an elongated spout, upper handle and double feeding hole.

In the Roman world, skylights were not only functional objects intended to illuminate domestic spaces; they also incorporated meaningful images, capable of reflecting tastes, beliefs and cultural references. In this case, the vegetal decoration gives the piece a particularly pleasant and refined interpretation.