Samian Ware by Guy de la Bedoyere

Soft back, 68 pages, Illustrated B&W, 15cm x 21cm

A useful book on the familiar red pottery which decorated Romano-British homes and particularly kitchens.

Contents:

• Manufacture
• South Gaul
• Central Gaul
• Romano-British Samian
• Other forms of decorated samian
• Other forms of decorated samian
• Plain samian
• Interpreting samian
• Further reading
• Museums

Samian Ware by Guy de la Bedoyere

This book is a concise introduction to the study of the mould-decorated red-gloss Roman pottery known as samian ware. Manufactured in Roman Gaul, it was imported into Britain in huge quantities throughout the first and second centuries AD. The dates of this pottery are of crucial value to arhcaeologists of the Roman period in Britain because it is dated by the historically testified events of the Boudican revolt, the destruction of Pompeii and events on the northern frontiers of Roman Britain. The distinctive styles of the periods and potters make it possible to use those dates to help provide chronologies for sites which cannot be directly associated with known events. The book discusses the complex method by which the decorated forms of this pottery were manufactured. It deals with the three major sources of this pottery, south, central and eastern Gaul. The work of the major workshops in each area is discussed and illustrated, including the significantly unsuccessful Romano-British attempts to manufacture samian ware. The book also deals with the other means of decorating samian ware and the plain forms of the pottery. The problems involved in interpreting samian ware for archaeologists are discussed and advice is provided on simple means by which samian ware can be recorded prior to expert attention.