Roman bowl with maker's mark

Roman bowl with maker's mark
ITEM: Bowl with maker's mark
MATERIAL: Terra Sigillata
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 66 mm x 135 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, M.B, acquired in 1960s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Roman terra sigillata bowls were a highly refined type of fine red pottery that became widespread across the Roman Empire, particularly from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The term terra sigillata means "sealed earth", referring to the distinctive glossy red slip that covered these vessels. These bowls were typically made from fine clay, coated with a rich, iron-based slip, and fired in a controlled oxidizing atmosphere to achieve their characteristic bright red or orange color. The pottery was known for its smooth, almost glass-like surface and was often used as tableware in Roman households, reflecting both practicality and a degree of luxury.

One of the most distinctive features of terra sigillata bowls was their decorative relief designs, which were either molded or stamped onto the surface. Many bowls featured floral patterns, mythological scenes, hunting motifs, or figures of gods and heroes, often arranged in intricate, repeating patterns. The designs were applied using a stamping technique, where individual motifs were pressed into the clay before firing. Some bowls also bore potters' marks, identifying the workshop or craftsman who produced them. The most famous production centers for terra sigillata included Arezzo in Italy (Arretine ware), La Graufesenque in Gaul, and later workshops in Germany and Britain, as the style spread across the provinces.

Terra sigillata bowls played an important role in Roman trade and daily life, serving as elite tableware and often accompanying the deceased in burials. Their widespread distribution across the empire, from Britain to North Africa and the Near East, demonstrates their popularity and the efficiency of Roman manufacturing and trade networks.

Measurement:

13.5 x 6.6 cm