Motif of palm-tree is common on Late North African lamps with different shoulders: e.g., Delattre1880, pp. 22-24, no. IX (Carthage); Selesnow1988, p. 160, no. 256, pl. 35 (Liebighaus Museum Alter Plastik, Frankfurt)
Comparanda
cf. Athenian copy of North African lamp: AgoraVII, pp. 176-177, no. 2425, pl. 39 (J. Perlzweig)
Comparanda
sim. Late Roman Corinthian or regional copies of North African lamp(s): CorinthIV.2, pp. 289-290, nos. 1492-1500, pl. XXII (O. Broneer)
Fabric, firing, surface
Late Roman Athenian lamp fabric (strong red; rather fine; smooth to granular break), firing (hard), and surface (orangish red, uneven, semiglossy slip brushed irregularly across top and sides). Smoothed seam and surface and fingerprints on back wall. Small rosette in relief on base scratched out with hashmarks in mold.
Preservation comment
One large sherd preserve ca. 50% from back of lamp, including large portions of discus, base, and shoulder and most of handle but missing uppermost part. Slight to moderate, extensive abrasion; worn breaks; scattered, thick specks to small patches of encrustation on all surfaces.
