This lamp was described by its collector as ‘Buff-coloured; length 4.5 in. Relief: Cupid riding on bridled dolphin surrounded by dolphin, lobster, cuttle-fish, crab, three fish, pecten and whelk. On bottom SAECVL (Saeculares), incuse. Lamps so marked are supposed to have been made for use during the Secular Games, and these were celebrated in AD 88 and 248 under Philippus Senior. The latter date seems most probable for this lamp, though the pattern had already come in temp. Domitian’. It belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Montague who collected over 800 classical archaeological objects, which he bequeathed to the museum on his death.
