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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A17295 cup. Roman; 50-70	A16652 cup. Roman; late 1st century	A16456 cup. Roman; mid-late 2nd century	A14402 cup. Roman; mid-late 1st century
A2587 cup. Roman; 50-70	83.461/51 bowl.	17535 bowl.	12623 bowl. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st century
179BHS89[552]<900>* bowl. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st century	A28275 bowl. Late Iron Age-Roman; 1st-2nd century	14225l bowl. Roman	90.387/4 bowl. Roman
90.32/41 bowl. Roman	90.31/17 bowl. Roman	13254 bowl. Roman	P169 bowl. Roman
81.470/14 bowl. Roman	90.310/7 bowl. Roman	13313 bowl. Roman	25708 bowl. Roman
90.310/2 bowl. Roman	91.111/43 bowl. Roman	25932 bowl. Roman	3134 bowl. Roman

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