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Class : Fine wares
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Source : Britain
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Distribution in Britain
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- Click on the image
(or here)
for larger map.
- This is a hectad map. More details of the data and mapping are available
here.
- Compare the distribution of this ware with others
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| Distribution summary |
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Roman Pottery in Britain (Tyers 1996)
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This ware is discussed on p.167-168 of Roman Pottery in Britain (1996).
Fabric code : COLC
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National Roman Fabric Reference Collection (Tomber & Dore 1998)
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Cross-reference from this group to fabric descriptions published in
The National Roman Fabric Reference Collection (1998):
- COL CC 2
- Colchester (Late) Colour-coated ware 1 p.132
Illustrations of these fabrics are available only in the printed catalogue: R. Tomber & J. Dore,
The national Roman fabric reference collection. A handbook
Museum of London Archaeology Service, London. MOLAS monograph 2. (1998). |
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The Pottery kilns of Roman Britain (Swan 1984)
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| This fabric was produced at kiln sites at these locations:
Display more details of these sites. Data summarized from V. G. Swan The pottery kilns of Roman Britain (HMSO, London, 1984, Royal Commission on Historical Monuments: Supplementary Series 5). |
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| Summary |
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Colour-coated beakers and other forms produced at Colchester
(Essex/GB) and distributed across south and east Britain during the
2nd to 4th centuries AD. |
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Fabric samples Scale (when present) in cm.
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Fabric and technology
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Fine fabric with smooth fracture, but varying from soft to very
hard; core pink (5YR 8/4) through light greyish-brown (5YR 6/1-4;
7/1-4) to dark-grey (5YR 4/1) with slipped matt dark grey or red
surfaces; inclusions of black iron ore (may be abundant), mica,
quartz sand and calcareous flecks (all fine). Wheel-thrown. Decoration
includes barbotine, rouletting, roughcast and appliqué.
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Forms
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A wide range of tablewares recorded from the kilns, including
'castor boxes' and flagons, but beakers most widespread.
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Colchester
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Body
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Rim
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type
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form
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form
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1-8
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391
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bag-shaped
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cornice
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11-12
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392
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bag-shaped
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plain
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15
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396
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globular
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curved
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13
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397
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constricted
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curved
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9-10
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406
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ovoid folded
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curved
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14
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407
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tall
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vertical
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16
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308
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castor box
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Table 1. Classification of Colchester colour-coated
forms (after Hull)
2nd-cent. forms are bag-shaped cornice-rimmed Colchester
391, or plain rimmed beakers Colchester 392 with roughcast,
rouletted bands or barbotine decoration, including scrolls and
'hunt cups'. Taller, ovoid folded beakers Colchester 406
more typical of 3rd cent. Rare elaborately decorated specimens,
combining appliquè and barbotine techniques, feature human figures
participating in gladiatorial shows or religious scenes.
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Chronology
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Production from c. AD 120 until later 3rd cent. Origin probably
lies with potters familiar with East Gaulish/Rhineland industry,
where most of the forms have their origin. Some contact maintained
with these continental industries throughout the 2nd and early
3rd cent.
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Source
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Colchester, where many kilns have been excavated on the outskirts
of the town.
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Distribution
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Principally East Anglia, the London basin and southern Britain,
with some export to the northern frontier during Antonine period
(as)COMO -- distribution map incomplete due to problems with identification.
From early 3rd, largely confined to local markets.
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Aliases
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Carlisle fabric 300. Chelmsford fabric 1. Chesterfield
fabric 30. Gestingthorpe fabrics C3-C5. Great Chesterford
fabric 30. JRPS bibliography fabric clc. Lullingstone
fabric 4. Milton Keynes fabric 23a. Kent fine fabric
4b.
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Bibliography
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For kilns: Hull 1963 (with typology of products); RCHM gazetteer
92-5, F273-88. For fabric: Toller in Draper 1985, 87-8; Anderson
1980, 37.
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References
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Anderson 1980.
Anderson, A. C., A guide to Roman fine wares, Vorda Research
Series, 1, Vorda, Highworth, (1980).
Draper 1985.
Draper, J., Excavations by Mr. H. P. Cooper on the Roman site
at Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, Essex, EAA, 25, Archaeology
Section. Essex County Council, (1985).
Hull 1963.
Hull, M. R., The Roman potters' kilns of Colchester, Reports
of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London,
21, Society of Antiquaries and the Corporation of the Borough
of Colchester, Oxford, (1963).
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