Ancient Terracotta Beaker, Roman North Africa (3195B-PLK) SPECIAL PRICE

Description

This earthenware cup is called a beaker, a term used by archeologists to describe small cups without a handle and held in the hands similar to Japanese ceramic teacups that also warm one’s hands. Items like this were made in Africa Proconsularis, the Roman North Africa pottery center and distributed throughout the Roman Empire). Using a pottery wheel, this globular cup is low-fired, thin and covered with a crème colored slip which darkened slightly during its burial. The rim is two-toned with the inside and outside in a slight terracotta red and the area between them having a crème slip. A form of functional pottery called Coarse Wares made for the poor, the body is very simple and embellished only with extremely subtle, shallow ribs made with a brush held against the outer wall while the pottery wheel was turning. It is very plain, yet its shape is strikingly beautiful. Although there are expected minor chips and scratches, earth adherents and minor losses of the slip, it is in excellent condition.