A Grand Tour Patinated Bronze Hanging Oil Lamp

A finely cast 19th-century Grand Tour patinated bronze hanging oil lamp (lucerna), modeled directly after the famous Roman archaeological discoveries excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum. The dual-wick boat-shaped reservoir is intricately decorated along the sides with relief motifs and features two opposite nozzles.
The prominent, arched suspension handle is masterfully sculpted in the form of two confronting dolphins whose tails meet at the top apex to hold the original multi-link hanging chain. The central filling hole is covered by a removable dome-shaped lid, beautifully surmounted by a finely detailed, seated classical figure of a bearded Silenus (or grotesque satyr) in a protective, crouched posture. Highly sought after by Grand Tour travelers in Italy during the 1800s, this lamp stands out for its exceptional casting quality and faithful historicist execution. Patinated bronze, suspension chain. Height 27.2 cm.