Ancient Roman Pottery HUGE Vessel. Spanish Export License. - 265 mm

ITEM: Vessel
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 237 mm x 265 mm x 235 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex European private collection, Ex Lakythos S.A.R.L (1987), Ex Galerie Hydra, Geneva, Switzerland (1984)

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.

If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.

Roman pottery, or ceramics, was an incredibly vital and ubiquitous part of life across the vast Roman Empire, distinguished primarily by its massive scale of production and functional standardization. Archaeologists broadly divide Roman pots into two main categories: coarse wares and fine wares. Coarse wares were the everyday, utilitarian vessels—thick-walled cooking pots (ollae), shallow grinding bowls (mortaria), and large two-handled storage and transport jars (amphorae). These were often locally made, undecorated, and built for durability. Fine wares, by contrast, were the more delicate and elaborate tableware (cups, bowls, dishes) used for serving and display during formal dining (convivia). The sheer quantity of discarded pottery, such as the famous Monte Testaccio in Rome (a hill composed almost entirely of broken amphorae), attests to their central role in the Roman economy and daily function.

The most recognizable form of Roman fine ware is Terra Sigillata (Sealed Earth), also widely known as Samian Ware. This pottery is characterized by its signature hard, glossy, brick-red surface achieved through a refined slip and a controlled firing process. Produced in specialized, near-industrial workshops in Italy (Arretine ware) and later in Gaul, Samian ware was heavily traded across the empire and often copied the forms and relief decoration of more expensive metal vessels. Decoration was typically created using molds; the potters would press stamps into the mold's interior to create intricate scenes (mythological figures, animals, gladiatorial combat) that would appear in relief on the exterior of the finished pot. This mass-production method ensured uniformity, allowing archaeologists to use Samian ware forms and maker's stamps for precise dating of sites.

Beyond tableware, Roman pots served highly specialized functions. Amphorae were crucial to inter-regional trade, used specifically to transport bulk goods like wine, olive oil, and garum (fish sauce); their shapes and fabrics were highly standardized, indicating the specific origin and contents. Mortaria were another distinctive form—heavy, wide bowls with a gritted interior surface (made with sand or crushed pottery) and often a spout, designed explicitly for grinding herbs, spices, and ingredients for sauces. This standardization and functional specialization of Roman pottery reflects an advanced, interconnected economy and a sophisticated culinary culture that required specific tools for food storage, preparation, and consumption.