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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79.354 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.372 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	22521 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	84.332/56 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
A23668 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A28213 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	14075 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	12384c bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
14074 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	12384a bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.371 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A23370 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
A28366 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.369 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.363 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.374 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
A28492 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	13263 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	14069 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	21102 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
16333 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A22689 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	95.300 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	18590 bowl. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century

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