Roman North African is the province created along the north coast in 146 BCE after the defeat of the Carthaginian Empire. Named Africa Proconsulares it covered a territory spanning present day Tunisia, Northeast Algeria and the coast of Libya. Including original Phoenician and Carthaginian coastal areas developed to enable shipping and trading in the Mediterranean, it was very affluent, it was second only to Italia and enforced Roman policy to thwart the possibility of another North African power. Divided into territories and ruled by Roman officials chosen by the Roman Senate and part of the Empire under various names until the 7th century CE, it was nicknamed “the granary of the empire” and provided much of the Empire’s agriculture, textiles, wine, timber, livestock, marble and wool. Simple slipped utilitarian terracotta pottery, more decorative ceramics with etched and stamped designs and wares known as African Red Slip were made in North African pottery production centers, shipped to Italia and elsewhere in the Empire and are in represented our collection.
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Made in Roman North Africa, this small pouring vessel made of durable materials was called coarse wear for everyday use. Elegant in its simplicity It was made with a potters wheel. A fine small piece of history.
Produced locally in Roman North Africa ceramic centers in Africa Proconsularis after the Roman Empire expanded, pottery like this was shipped throughout the Empire. Functional wares called coarse wares were covered with slip to make them less porous and sometimes as here red paint added for decoration.This finely shaped red clay earthenware is less typical than other bowls with thinner, taller and slightly curved walls.
This Roman ceramic flagon is a uniquely shaped vessel used to store and pour potable liquids. A crème slip carinated jug with a high profile and a trefoil pouring spout, it has a strap handle attached from the carinated edge to just below the rim for easy handling. Roman coarse wars like this were use for liquids and to make offerings to household deities.
The shape of this elegant carinated ancient earthenware pouring vessel used to hold and dispense potable liquids: water, wine and other drinks. They were used to hydrate everyone including laborers, field workers, ship-rowers, army personnel and people in their homes and were placed wherever they were needed.
Created in the Roman North Africa platters like this were distributed throughout the Roman Empire. Known as s ARS (African Red Slip) it is decorated with circular rings with perfect ridges made using a pottery wheel. This ancient serving plate is remarkable for its survival, size, stamped designs and graceful simplicity. Found in two pieces, the breaks were clean and glued together. Platters of this size are rare and are usually in multiple broken pieces with significant losses.
Made in the Roman North Africa, this ancient carinated ceramic flagon called coarse wear for daily use made of inexpensive durable clay was used to hydrate all kinds of people and on home altars for offerings to family deities. Carinated pottery, where the top and lower sections are angled in opposite directions forming a pointed edge, was common ancient pottery shape, this one with a handle.
A fine ancient Roman platter produced for upper classes, this is refined and delicate and has stamped decorative images in complex circles. Although rough areas with small losses remain, it is an ancient piece otherwise in very good condition that, especially considering its age and use, remains a remarkable surviving piece of history.
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