A lamp in the form of a bronze sculpture of a very young Ethiopian or negroid
slave. He is naked and standing on a hexagonal pedestal. On his folded
arms he is holding a tray (now incomplete), also made of bronze, on which
the lamplighting instruments were placed.
Along with the pieces of this lamp, the some severely damaged fragments
of a large bronze candelabra with three or four arms were found. This was
probably used to hang a lamp supported by chains. The boy’s eyes, which
have not been preserved, would most likely have been made of glass paste,
or possibly of a more precious material. Maximum dimensions: 81 x 26 x
35 cm. From the High Imperial period - 1st or 2nd century AD (MNAT 527).
The find was made in 1860 in the area known as the Port Quarry and after
its restoration it was placed on show in the Archaeological Museum of Tarragona,
which at that time was in the Plaça de la Font (the present-day
site of the Town Hall). In 1868 it was badly damaged when heavy rain caused
part of the roof and interior of the building to collapse, and it had to
be restored again.
The sculpture, made with the so-called “lost wax” technique, is in the
Hellenic style and is of a very lifelike figure of a child, full of grace
despite its apparent rigidity. It is one of the best-known exhibits in
the museum and one of the most appreciated by visitors. It is popularly
known as El Negret (the Little Negro). |
The Sarcophagus of the Pedagogue
Fragment of a monumental vessel with Bacchic decoration
Wall mosaic depicting Euterpe the muse
The articulated ivory doll
Nero Germànic
The Fish Mosaic (the Roman villa of La Pineda)
