Gallo-Roman Terra Sigillata Bowl (Dragendorff 1895, Type 27) Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 2nd century A.D. Material: Terra sigillata Dimensions: 92 x 43 mm Condition: Good condition No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 7 The current owner purchased this Gallo-Roman terra sigillata bowl (Dragendorff 1895, type 27) from the private collector Jan Bakker, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The previous owner, Jan Bakker, stated that the object had been in his collection since 2025. According to the previous owner, it had previously formed part of the estate of a private collector in the Netherlands, who is stated to have assembled the collection in the 1960s–1970s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This vessel is a Gallo-Roman terra sigillata bowl of Dragendorff type 27, a well-known form of fine Roman red-slipped tableware used throughout the Roman Empire. Bowls of this type were part of everyday dining equipment and were intended for the serving and consumption of food and drink. Their presence in domestic and military contexts alike reflects the wide adoption of Roman dining habits across the provinces. Terra sigillata was one of the most characteristic ceramic products of the Roman world. It is distinguished by its refined fabric, carefully controlled form, and glossy red slip, all of which reflect organised workshop production and a highly developed ceramic tradition. Rather than being a purely local product, this ware formed part of an extensive commercial system in which specialised production centres supplied standardised vessels to a wide market. Such vessels were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany and the Netherlands. Dragendorff 27 is a recognised and well-documented form within the broader typology of Roman table ceramics. Its standardised shape made it suitable for repeated production and broad distribution, and examples are frequently encountered in Roman settlements, forts, and towns. In this way, the bowl illustrates not only daily life at the Roman table, but also the degree to which provincial communities participated in shared material culture across the Empire. The 2nd century A.D. was a period in which terra sigillata remained an important component of Roman dining practice, especially in the north-western provinces. Vessels such as this demonstrate the balance between utility and presentation in Roman households, where even ordinary tableware was produced to a high visual and technical standard. They also testify to the continuity of established ceramic forms within a broader Imperial context. Objects of this type are valued by collectors for their clear typology, strong connection to Roman domestic life, and their place within the well-documented tradition of Roman provincial pottery production.