A slip (also surrey or slipware) is liquefied clay or particles of clay suspended in water used to cover a clay body or to bond sections of a clay piece together (i.e. like gluing a cup handle) called a joining slip. Slips may also be used to decorate, color or protect parts of the clay body. For instance, mixing the clay with the same color of the clay body does not change its color, but mixing the clay with metal oxides produce a color slip in black, white, crème, red, and more depending on the metal oxide used. Covering the clay body with a slip also lessens the permeability (leakage) of a porous clay body. There are many other ways to use a slip for decorative purposes that depend on its thickness.
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This small wine jug was created in a Roman North Africa production center for domestic use and exported elsewhere in the empire. As the poor could only afford practical objects, potters made many functional objects using inexpensive long-lasting materials.
Produced in northern Apulia in the early Daunian period, this cup with a flaring rim has a wide loop ear-shaped handle attached at the bottom, looping above and attached to the top rim. It was covered with a beige slip before being decorated with reddish-brown and light black bands on the body and handle creating a multi color stripe motif on the handle and across the body with geometric forms such as circles, and four triangles with rounded sides typical of Duanian earthenware vessels. There may be repairs to the handle as there is a thick uneven slip applied over the painted body underneath it or the handle might have been attached after the body paint was completed. Otherwise it is in very good condition.
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.
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.
This finely shaped red clay earthenware piece is less typical than other Roman bowls. Its thin walls are taller and lighter, and a red band circles it and angles inward a bit on the inside.
This figure is Harpocrates the Greek god of silence, confidentiality and secrets holding a jar and was made using a bivalve-mould. The iconography hints at a royal and temple cult, as he wears a double crown symbolizing both Upper and Lower Egypt. A royal emblem showing an association with the contemporary king, in Egypt royals with crowns were a manifestation of the Egyptian god Horus. Small white specks are all that remains of the slip and colorful paints covering it. Missing part of his right side when excavated, there are no repairs and it is mounted on a stand. Given its age, the image is in good condition with normal scrapes and cracks found in pieces of this age.
This ancient serving plate is remarkable for its survival, size, stamped designs and graceful simplicity. It is known as ARS (African Red Slip). Platters of this size are rare and, when they are found, they are usually in multiple broken pieces that have significant losses.
This Roman Egyptian figurine from Alexandria of a woman holding a young child is a Kourotrophos, a class of god and goddess figures holding infants or children. Referred to as child nurturers, these were revered deities, cult figures and mortals who were also fertility symbols and protectors of the young. Mother and child figures like this are universal and appear known in disparate cultures throughout the world.
This thin-walled ancient Roman vessel is a beautiful work of art. Its has a delicate piriform (pear-shaped) body and fine relief designs of a rosette, lion and palm leaves surround it.
This is an excellent example of the daily-use utilitarian earthenware oinochoe created for the masses. . Its body is tapered and ribbed from the everted rim to just above the flat, wide foot making it stable and attractive. It was made using a potters wheel, seen by the circle marks on the bottom and the uniform ribbing.
An uncomplicated ancient earthenware cup wih no handle, this rests on a short foot. Its body curves upand rises to meet a neck topped with an everted rim to lessen spillage It has a wide mouth for easy drinking, and the rim two-tones: a slight terracotta red and its crème slip. Its shape is exquisite. Although there are expected minor chips and scratches, earth adherents and minor losses of the slip, it is in excellent condition, beautiful in its simplicity and one of our favorite pieces in the VA collection.
Made in the Roman North Africa, this ancient ceramic flagon was made for the lower classes and called coarse wear. Used to hydrate all kinds of people and on home altars to make offerings to domestic family deities, it is a common ancient pottery shape having a handle and an angled edge around the entire vessel.
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