Reenactment ceramics

Terra sigillata - Roman noble dishes

The production of the finest Roman tableware originated in Italy (Arezzo, 1st century BC). From this northern Roman province, the production spread first to southern France. The shiny red-coated dishes have always been considered as high-quality goods. Later, after it spread to Gaul, Terra Sigillata became a mass produced pottery and was distributed throughout the Roman Empire. The strikingly elegant and glossy red coating on the ceramic made the vessels more durable. Terra means ‘earth’ and sigillata ‘stamped’, as the pieces carried a stamp from the workshop. The designation is a modern one, as we still do not know how exactly the Romans themselves called these wonderful goods.

Roman Terra Nigra: Black Roman pottery, precious and shiny!

Produces in a furnace with reduced oxygen supply and intake of smoke, the Roman pottery achieved a grey-black shiny coating for these products. Especially during the Roman Empire, these black mugs and cups in terra nigra were very popular. Known, for example, is the traditional Roman saying cups, made from terra nigra, which you can purchase on our pages of The Roman Shop. The jewelry cup is another famous example the replica of which we have modelled according to an original from the 2nd-4th centuries A.D. There is another, elegant Roman clay cup with a black finish and a thinly glazed inside, so that it also meets the needs of today's hygienic. You can even put this cup into a normal dishwasher. Or, why not choose the Roman chalice, finished in terra sigillata. And toast with the Romans: FRVI ("enjoy"), SUPALAK ("drink"), DA BIBERE ("Let’s drink!"). The so-called Saying’s Mugs from Trier, Germany, is a fine ceramic mug that dates from the late antique Roman Empire and was amongst a production line that found wide distribution especially in the North-Western provinces. Text and ornaments are made in white painting on a black varnish. These mugs and cups are fine gifts, but also representative tablewares for the wine loving household. The vessels hold the wine at the respective beverage temperature, cool white wines stay cool, warmer red wines remain at the right temperature.

To match the experience of wine, you can add the grapes from the beautiful replica of a Roman collar bowl! The typical Roman collar bowl has beaded edges and is created according to an original dating back to the 2nd century A.D. The decorative tableware is a typical versatile bowl, allows for a good grip and with its ornament on each panel, has a striking look.

Facts worth knowing about Sigillata

Relief Sigillata

Relief sigillata is in the form of porous bowls, which are fixed on the potter's wheel, screwed. To get the shell their plastic reliefs.

Smooth sigillata

These goods are produced Roman pottery in principle to undecorated.

Notchers sigillata

The pattern is cut with different cutting tools in the slightly dried surface.

Sigillata with Barboutine / Painting

The clay slip decoration is applied or painted with a funnel, also in different colors (spell cup) on the leather-hard vessel.

Rough ceramic

The clay used here is not as fine-grained, the vessels are fired without coating (engobe).