357
358
359
This form groups together lamps with a plain shoulder and a heart-shaped nozzle. In an early variant, D IX 1, the upper curves of the “heart” are nearly on a horizontal level: nozzle form Bus. 10a. This is the case for all the African and Italic examples in the Getty collection. In another variant, D IX 2, the curves are much more rounded: nozzle Bus. 10b. This is the case with practically all the Getty lamps of this type of eastern place of manufacture or origin, although we must admit that differences between variants Bus. 10a and 10b are less obvious on the eastern lamps than on the African or Italic ones.
The shoulder form of the lamps (irrespective of African, Italic, or eastern place of manufacture or origin) varies widely. Loeschcke shoulder form VI b is represented twice, in cats. 404 and 410; form VII a is seen in cats. 409 and 411; form VII b appears in cat. 412; and form VIII b in cats. 403 and 408.
Among the discus decors are: mythology (4 ex.), amphitheater (3 ex.), daily life (2 ex.), animals (5 ex.), and geometric pattern (1 ex.). Four lamps have a plain discus. Ten bases are marked off by one circular groove; seven by two closely placed circular grooves. Two lamps have a base-ring. Cat. 359 is signed AVFIFRON, an African lampmaker active in the mid-second century. Ten eastern lamps have an incuse plain planta pedis on their base, a feature common among eastern lamps of the type, but exceptional among African lamps. The date of form D IX is Flavian to mid-second century for the D IX 1 variant; second century for the D IX 2 variant.
Additional objects of this type: cats. 402–17.