Lamp in the Shape of a Comic Mask

The body of this Roman lamp takes the form of a theatrical mask. Ancient oil lamps all operated on the same principle. The body of the lamp held fuel, usually olive oil, and a nozzle held a wick. In this instance, oil was added through the open mouth of the mask and the nozzle for the wick emerges from beneath the beard. The mask represents the "Leading Slave," a sly and resourceful stock character from Roman comedy, and shows the typical features of a scoop-shaped beard, snub nose, and furrowed brow. Most of the mask's hair is covered by a kerchief, from which short tassels of corkscrew curls emerge at the sides. A wreath of ivy leaves and berries decorates the mask and continues around the base of the handle of the lamp. Masks and other images drawn from the theater were a popular motif for Roman furnishings and interior decoration.