Roman African Red Slip Lamp with Dolphin Motif, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 3rd–4th century CE

This finely preserved oil lamp is molded in warm orange-red African Red Slip (ARS) ware, with a sharply defined central tondo featuring a stylized dolphin, its arched body fluidly rendered with a prominent round eye, open beak, pointed dorsal fin, and outstretched tail. The lamp’s rounded shoulder is richly decorated with a radiating motif of alternating olive branches and tiled squares, enhancing the visual dynamism and rhythm of the surface.

The lamp has a classic elongated nozzle, two small filling holes, and a slightly upturned volute tip. The underside bears a neatly defined base ring, typical of the region’s late Roman production standards.

African Red Slip ware, produced primarily in Tunisia, became the dominant fine ware of the Roman West from the 1st to the 5th centuries CE. These lamps were widely exported across the Mediterranean and into Western Europe, with some examples found as far north as Britain. The use of dolphins as decorative elements may allude to maritime themes, protective symbolism, or Dionysian iconography, reflecting the cultural diffusion within Roman decorative vocabulary.

Medium: Terracotta

Dimensions: Length: 5 1/4 inches (13.3 cm). Height: 2 inches (5.08 cm)

Condition: Intact and in excellent condition, with crisp mold detail and well-preserved surface.

Provenance: A.V. private collection, Virginia, acquired from the Brussels trade in the 1980s.

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