Page 8 - Oundle Life November 2022

OUNDLE MUSEUM
Samian ware bowl
Bowl from Glapthorn Road site
In our quite extensive Roman collection in
the Museum we have a rather special ‘Samian Ware’ decorated bowl. This bowl was found during excavations on the housing estate behind the George Pub on the Glapthorn Road and although was discovered broken into pieces it has been put back together.
Samian Ware
stamp from Nassington
classified by a scholar called Dragendorff in 1895 who identified 55 main forms with more being added since then by others. The decorated Samian is made from a mould, the clay is pressed into a mould set on a wheel, drawn up, dried, and then it shrinks off the mould. Next
Samian Ware, or Terra Sigillata,
is a fine tableware of high quality
pottery of a red gloss colour and can
be found almost everywhere in Britain, including sites to the north of the
official province in Northern Britain.
Some types of Samian are very plain,
but many are decorated with figures
such as gladiators, animals, gods etc. in relief. The vessels have a glossy surface ranging from
a soft lustre to a brilliant glaze-like shine and were produced in standard shapes and sizes and manufactured on an industrial scale mainly in France and exported all around the Empire. Some Samian was produced in places such as Colchester, but the clay was inferior and not popular, and production did not last very long.
The different types of Samian were first
The name stamps are pressed into the bowl before firing
the base is added dipped in slip, dried and placed in a kiln.
Many of the bowls and dishes have maker’s stamps on them usually on the base. The name stamps are pressed into the bowl before firing to indicate who made it or their employer. This means that Samian Ware can be dated accurately by looking at the stamps as
certain makers worked at certain times so they are an extremely useful tool in dating buildings or contexts on an excavation.
Carole Bancroft-Turner
The Museum will close for the Season on the 30th October and will re-open in March 2023 with a new exhibition. www.oundlemuseum.org.uk
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