12 ROMANO-BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT CHIGWELL.
RED LUSTROUS WARE ("SAMIAN").
The use of this kind of pottery appears to have extended with
the Roman empire, fragments having been discovered wherever
the Roman people had settled after their conquests. Not being
manufactured in Britain, it appears to have been imported from
Italy, Gaul, or Germany. Its common name of Samian is
generally used, though it is improbable that any of the ware made
at Samos ever found its way into Britain.
" The paste of the ware is usually of a fine sealing-wax red colour, and
was well worked before being wrought into shape Vessels of this ware are
generally well manufactured, the plain pieces bearing the marks of having
been turned on the lathe, while the pieces which are moulded outside are in
like manner carefully finished inside. The red colour is derived from the
presence of peroxide of iron (ferric oxide), which is supposed to have been
purposely introduced into the paste by admixture of certain ochres with the
levigated clay. The glaze is generally brilliant, unless it has been decomposed
from having been subjected to unfavourable conditions when buried in the
earth, and appears to have been formed of a silicate with an alkaline—earthy
base, coloured by peroxide of iron."*
The raised figures were usually obtained by pressure of the
paste into a mould, sometimes being finished by subsequent
marking with a stamp.
Samian ware, so called, generally preserves its glaze better
than the specimens exhibited, which, therefore, would perhaps be
classed as imitation or pseudo-Samian, but I am inclined to think
that most of the fragments have the true glaze, though terribly
eaten away by the action of some element in our soil. Examina-
tion of the piece of imitation (No. 64) will show that its paste is
coarser and glaze almost imperceptible, whereas the paste of the
others is fine and uniform in colour, and the glaze, where it re-
mains, is perfect. The three larger pieces of figured ware deserve
particular attention, as, notwithstanding their bad condition, they
show three distinct types of ornament. One (No. 61) exhibits a
common mythological treatment, with figures and a conventional
dolphin. Another piece (No. 62) shows naturalistic leaves, while
the third (No. 63) has geometrical ornament. No. 62 is interesting,
not only on account of the somewhat uncommon decoration, but
also because the design appears to have been finished by hand
stamping after coming from the mould.
The patera, or dish (No. 72), is much worn and decayed, but
the original design of a lotus leaf can be traced on the rim. The
glaze of the small cups (Nos. 71 and 74) is in good preservation,
though hardly so rich as on the fragment (No. 73).
* For the above and much more information as to "Samian" ware,
see the Catalogue of the Museum of Practical Geology, London.