Gallo-Roman beaker

Gallo-Roman beaker
ITEM: Beaker
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman, Gaul, Trier
PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 130 mm x 72 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition, restored
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Gallo-Roman pottery refers to the ceramics produced in the Roman provinces of Gaul (modern-day France, Belgium, and parts of Switzerland and Germany) between the 1st century BCE and the 5th century CE. This pottery reflects a blend of indigenous Gallic traditions and Roman influences, resulting in a wide variety of forms, decorations, and production techniques. One of the most famous types of Gallo-Roman pottery is Samian ware (Terra Sigillata), a high-quality, red-gloss tableware mass-produced in Gaul, particularly in centers like La Graufesenque, Lezoux, and Rheinzabern. These vessels often featured stamped or molded relief decoration depicting mythological scenes, animals, or geometric patterns.

Beyond luxury tableware, Gallo-Roman pottery included more utilitarian wares, such as coarse kitchenware and amphorae used for storing and transporting wine, oil, and other goods. Local potters adapted Roman forms and techniques, but they also continued to produce traditional Gallic styles, such as black-burnished ware and handmade pottery with incised decorations. Some regions specialized in distinctive ceramic types, like the "Rhenish ware", known for its dark, glossy surface and relief designs. The diversity in Gallo-Roman pottery illustrates the complex cultural exchanges between Roman settlers and the native Gallic populations, showing how local craftspeople integrated new Roman methods while maintaining regional identities.

Archaeological finds of Gallo-Roman pottery provide essential insights into trade networks, daily life, and technological advancements in Roman Gaul. Stamped potter’s marks on Samian ware, for example, help scholars trace manufacturing sites and distribution patterns across the empire. Pottery production sites were often located near rivers and major roads, facilitating trade and distribution throughout the Roman provinces. The decline of Gallo-Roman pottery coincided with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, as economic disruptions and shifting political structures led to changes in ceramic production and distribution.

Measurement:

7.2 x 13 cm