Ceramics home: Samian.

Samian

Samian, a glossy brick-red tableware, is the most recognisable Roman pottery found in Britain. It was industrially produced on a scale unequalled until the 18th century. One centre is estimated to have turned out a million vessels a year. Samian has been intensively studied, and the Museum has one of the largest collections in Britain - though at present only the more complete vessels are available online.

Samian was primarily used for displaying and serving food. Bowls, dishes and plates are common, along with smaller 'cups' that may have been used to serve condiments and snacks rather than been used as drinking vessels. Some samian was decorated with elaborate floral or figural designs that were made by throwing the pot within a mould.

Samian was first produced in north Italy at the end of the 1st century BC, but by AD43 it was nearly all being made in Gaul (France). The principal factories remained there for the next two centuries, although there were small-scale producers in Colchester and perhaps in London. Many vessels are stamped with the potter's name.

The Gallic factories closed around AD260, but other industries (see Finewares) made samian-style pottery of inferior quality until AD400.

Featured types

South Gaul (near Millau, NW of Montpellier, France, mainly 1st century) (-45 - 260)

Central Gaul (near Clermont-Ferrand, France, mainly 2nd century) (-45 - 260)

East Gaul (near Trier, Germany, 2nd to early 3rd century) (-45 - 260)

Other (eg Arretine, from Arezzo, Italy, late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD) (-45 - 260)

Related objects

There are 326 related objects.

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84.245/2 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A26452 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	15177 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	14077 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
11972 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A26455 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A27058 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A16455 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
14068 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	NN24818 dish. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	91.111/40 dish. Roman; mid 2nd-mid 3rd century	79.382 dish. Roman; mid 2nd-mid 3rd century
90.310/26 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	83.461/55 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	83.461/56 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	21444 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century
79.360 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	A22984 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	A16454 dish. Roman; mid-late 1st century	P178a dish; game counter. Roman
P178b dish; game counter. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	84.332/18 flagon. Roman	91.111/39 flagon. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	15043 inkwell. Roman

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