59. Samian Ware Bowl

'Dragendorff type 30'

A roman samian ware (terra sigillata) bowl from the Milton Keynes area in England, manufactured at the roman pottery kilns site in Highgate Woods, to the north of roman Londinium.

This vessel was part of a large collection of Romano-British and Iron Age pottery auctioned in 2019. 'MK' and old museum collection number on underside. C. 2nd century AD. Rare form with unusual decoration.

Condition: Restored. Surface wear. Hard to photograph to show the true colour. The first two photos are under lamplight, the second two, natural light.

Dimensions: 8.55cm tall, 11.3cm diameter.

Provenance: Ex. private collection, Plymouth, UK.

SOLD

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Samian Ware

Samian Ware (Terra Sigillata) was the fine tableware of Roman Britain and much of the northern Roman Empire. It was mass-produced under factory conditions and the finished pieces often had a manufacturer's stamp which provides excellent information about its distribution and dating.

The precursor to Samian Ware was "Arretine Ware" named after the region of Arretium (modern Arezzo) in Italy where it was first produced.

Most Samian Ware found in Britain was originally imported from Gaulish factories. The word Samian probably derives from the Greek island of Samos because this style of pottery originated there. In Britain, some native Samian forms were produced at Pulborough (Sussex), Colchester (Essex) and also possibly London during the second century AD. The product from British Potteries is of a lower quality than Gaulish examples.