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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A22692 cup. Roman; mid 1st century	90.310/8 cup. Roman; mid 1st-3rd century	90.310/9 cup. Roman; mid 1st-3rd century	84.332/17 cup. Roman; mid 1st-3rd century
91.111/42 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	91.111/34 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	91.111/44 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	P171 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century
83.461/49 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	22899 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	95.299 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century	A14399 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 2nd century
91.111/41 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	10548 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	21021 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	13264 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
A21800 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	A28541/3 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	18587 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	20168 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century
24496 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	21024 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	79.357 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century	12077 cup. Roman; mid 1st-mid 3rd century

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