Roman Indented Beaker
A beaker is a drinking vessel without a handle. This indented beaker is the typical shape of Roman beaker. It is hand thrown with six indentations in its side. These have been formed by hand, the sides being pressed in whilst the clay was still malleable. The indentations made it easier to grip, especially if it was full of wine, making the outside wet or slippery. There are six ridges in between the indentations. These were created by rolling and pressing pieces of clay between finger and thumb until they were flat. They were then stuck onto the beaker after it had been thrown, using slip, a mixture of clay and water, as glue. The larger pieces of clay were at the top, the smaller ones at the bottom. The ridges added an extra layer of clay between the fingers and the wall of the beaker, enabling it to be carried when it was hot.
Pottery was a widespread industry in many areas of the Roman Empire, and amphorae, wine jars, and pots for cooking and eating were produced by the thousand. Many potters were slaves who had been set free and most were men. Some wealthy landowners had their own potteries on their estates.
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Dimensions: Height:20.5cm |
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