An unusual and interesting Roman oil lamp type in orange terracotta.  The discus shows a central torch, with facing heads of a male and female and a sun disc below.
 
Ancient Roman: Circa 2nd - 3rd century AD.
 
Complete and intact.
Length 10 cms (3.9 ins)
 
Provenance: Swiss priv. coll. Basel-Landschaft. Before that in Swiss priv. coll. Peter Adank 1940-1991.
 
The iconography is interesting. It is possible that such a lamp may have served as a gift or household item celebrating marriage. since torches also played a role in Roman wedding ceremonies, symbolizing the light guiding the bride to her new home. Lamps depicting a torch between two figures might represent matrimonial union or domestic harmony.
 
See our blog posts about oil lamps