Roman, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An expertly wheel thrown circular terra sigillata ware plate, the form with a flat bottom, curved walls, and a thick, reinforced rim, the pottery of a bright orange-red color used throughout the Roman Empire during this period. Samian ware and Arretine ware are other terms used for Terra Sigillata pottery; however, both are misnomers as this pottery actually has nothing to do with the island of Samos and Arretine ware refers to pottery created at Arretium or modern Arezzo, Italy, the original center of production. This example is somewhat unusual, because while it boasts the glossy, vibrant red-orange finish characteristic of terra sigillata, it presents no decoration on the surface, and the term terra sigillata literally means "clay impressed with designs". Clearly its creator was a purist who appreciated the sophisticated geometry of this form and did not want any decoration to distract from its elegant silhouette. Size: 9.25" W x 1.5" H (23.5 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: Ex-collection of Dr. K.B., Munich, Germany, acquired in 1970s.

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