Oil Lamp Known As "frog Lamp", Egypt, Schier Type A 5.4, 2nd – 4th Century Ad.

An amygdaloid-shaped oil lamp with a short, rounded spout pierced for the wick and a central filling hole highlighted by an engraved circular ring. The stylized, incised decoration evokes a frog seen from above, composed of hatched and dotted patterns arranged around the central disc. The reverse features an engraved workshop mark resembling a fishbone or a linear vegetal motif. A compact piece with balanced proportions, characteristic of Egyptian productions of this type. Beige-orange terracotta, traces of firing on the spout, in good overall condition, see photos. Egypt, Schier type A 5.4, 2nd–4th century AD. Dimensions: 7.7 × 6 × 2.7 cm. Sold with a certificate from expert S. Reynes and an invoice from Galerie Ocarina. Shipping costs upon request. Provenance: Formerly in a French private collection, acquired at auction at Drouot in 2025. "These lamps appeared in Egypt during the Roman period and became widely used in domestic settings. Their compact shape and short spout indicate standardized production linked to regional workshops active particularly in the Fayoum. The frog motif refers to an ancient symbolism associated with regeneration and fertility, inherited from Pharaonic traditions where this animal evoked rebirth and renewal. In the later period, this iconography was simplified into stylized motifs while retaining a protective dimension in the everyday sphere."