Bowl with appliqué decoration
Roman, mid-4th century AD
From central Tunisia
African Red Slip ware
The bowl is made in a thin, fine clay, typical of central
Tunisia. The interior is decorated with appliqués. The larger
scene, taking up almost half of the vessel floor, shows a group of
cupids. The central cupid reclines and seems to be mimicking
Hercules, while the others make offerings to him of a garland and a
kid. The smaller appliqué shows a centaur-triton blowing an
elongated triton shell. The two subjects do not seem to be related,
but the random mixing of motifs is common in this period.
African Red Slip Ware was inspired by Italian Red Slip Ware
(Arretine ware) and Gaulish Red Slip Ware (samian ware). It began
to be manufactured in numerous kiln-sites throughout Africa
Proconsularis (northern Tunisia) from the first century AD. While
it was originally produced for the domestic market, it began to be
used as a secondary, or 'piggy-back', cargo on the corn and oil
ships which sailed from Africa. By the late first century AD it had
reached Sicily and Italy. As the produce of North Africa became
ever more important to the Empire, the quantity, diversity and
popularity of north African products grew proportionately. By the
later third century, African Red Slip Ware, produced now in central
as well as northern Tunisia, was the dominant pottery tableware of
the Roman world, and continued to dominate the market until the
Arab invasions of the later seventh century destroyed workshops and
markets alike.
J.W. Hayes, Late Roman pottery (London: British School at Rome, 1972)
J.W. Hayes, Handbook of Mediterranean Roma (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)
J.W. Hayes, A supplement to Late Roman pot (London: British School at Rome, 1980)