Lucerne with bust of actor signed GABINIA. Rome, I - II century A.D.

Lucerne with bust of actor signed GABINIA. Rome, I - II century AD.
Terracotta.
Provenance: Private collection, Holland.
Condition: with repairs.
Measurements: 11,3 cm long.

The main interest of this lucerne lies in the combination of two particularly appreciated elements: the theatrical representation of the disc and the presence of a signature or workshop mark, GABINIA, which provides an added documentary value. In the center is the bust of an actor, probably characterized by a stage mask, framed by circular moldings that focus attention on the image.

Theatrical iconography was widespread in the Roman world, both for the social importance of the spectacle and for the decorative taste for masks, actors and characters of strong expressiveness. In a lucerna, this motif is particularly evocative, as it links an everyday object of illumination with the universe of theater, entertainment and domestic visual culture.