African red slip
African red slip (ARS) is a category of terra sigillata, or "fine" Ancient Roman pottery produced in the province of Africa Proconsularis, specifically that part roughly coinciding with the modern country of Tunisia and the Diocletianic provinces of Byzacena and Zeugitana. It is distinguished by a thick-orange red slip over a slightly granular fabric. Interior surfaces are completely covered, while the exterior can be only partially slipped, particularly on later examples.
African red slip was produced from the mid-1st century CE into the 7th century. By the 3rd century CE, it appears on sites throughout the Mediterranean and in the major cities of Roman Europe. It was the most widely distributed representative of the sigillata tradition in the late-Roman period, and occasional imports have been found as far afield as Britain in the 5th-6th centuries.[1] African red slip ware was still widely distributed in the 5th century but after that time the volume of production and trade may well have declined. While the latest forms continued into the 7th century and are found in such major cities as Constantinople and Marseille, the breakup of commercial contacts that typified the later 7th century coincides with the final decline of the African red slip industry.
The production and success of African red slip is probably closely tied to the agricultural productivity of Rome's North African provinces, as indicated in part by the contemporaneous distribution of Roman-period North African amphoras.
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Vessel forms [edit]
From about the 4th century, competent copies of the fabric and forms were also made in several other regions, including Asia Minor, the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt. Over the long period of production, there was obviously much change and evolution in both forms and fabrics. Both Italian and Gaulish plain forms influenced ARS in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE (for example, Hayes Form 2, the cup or dish with an outcurved rim decorated with barbotine leaves, is a direct copy of the samian forms Dr.35 and 36, made in South and Central Gaul),[2] but over time a distinctive ARS repertoire developed.
There was a wide range of dishes and bowls, many with rouletted or stamped decoration, and closed forms such as tall ovoid flagons with appliqué ornament (Hayes Form 171). The ambitious large rectangular dishes with relief decoration in the centre and on the wide rims (Hayes Form 56), were clearly inspired by decorated silver platters of the 4th century, which were made in rectangular and polygonal shapes as well as in the traditional circular form.
Surface decoration [edit]
A wide range of bowls, dishes and flagons were made in ARS, but the technique of making entire relief-decorated vessels in moulds was discontinued.[3] Instead, appliqué motifs were frequently used where decoration in relief was required, separately made and applied to the vessel before drying and firing. Stamped motifs were also a favoured form of decoration, and decorative motifs reflected not only the Graeco-Roman traditions of the Mediterranean, but eventually the rise of Christianity as well: there is a great variety of monogram crosses and plain crosses amongst the stamps in the later centuries. Similar forms and fabrics were made for more local distribution in Egypt, which had its own very active and diverse ceramic traditions in the Roman period.
Surface decoration of ARS is relatively simple during the first three centuries of production, with occasional rouletting, barbotine motifs and some appliqué being typical. In the 4th century applied decoration becomes common. By the 5th century stamped central motifs such as animals, crosses and humans are common on larger plates. Paralleling developments in other visual media, gladatorial scenes and references to pagan mythology come to be replaced by Christian figures. In the last phase of production, surface treatment consists of light spiral burnishing on some plates and rouletting around the floor of certain bowls.
Main typologies [edit]
In 1972 John Hayes published a type series running from form 1 to 200, with forms 112-120 remaining unused.[4] A supplement appeared in 1980.[5] In addition to other previous work, Hayes made use of Waage's work in both Antioch and the Athenian Agora, as well as Lamboglia's in Ventimiglia. Michael Fulford's publication of the British excavations at Avenue du Président Habib Bourguiba, Salammbo in Carthage expanded on the work of Hayes.[6] Carandini's typology, published in Enciclopedia dell'arte antica classica e orientale, is also important.[7] Michael Mackensen offers an alternate typology for later forms based on his work in northern Tunisia.[8] Michel Bonifay has also collected previous scholarship alongside his own observations.[9]
Some major ARS centres in central Tunisia are Sidi Marzouk Tounsi, Henchir el-Guellal (Djilma), and Henchir es-Srira, all of which have ARS lamp artifacts attributed to them by the microscopic chemical makeup of the clay fabric as well as macroscopic style prevalent in that region.
Table of Common Forms[10] [edit]
| Form | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayes form 1 | 50 | 80 | |
| Hayes form 2 | 50 | 100 | |
| Hayes form 3 | 60 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 3a | 60 | 90 | |
| Hayes form 3b | 75 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 3c | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 4 | 75 | 175 | |
| Hayes form 4a | 75 | 125 | |
| Hayes form 4b | 125 | 175 | |
| Hayes form 5 | 60 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 5a | 60 | 100 | |
| Hayes form 5b | 60 | 100 | |
| Hayes form 5c | 60 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 6 | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 6 | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 6b | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 6c | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 7 Bowl | 70 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 7a Bowl | 60 | 125 | |
| Hayes form 7b Bowl | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 8 | 75 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 8a | 75 | 160 | |
| Hayes form 8b | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 9 | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 9a | 100 | 160 | |
| Hayes form 9b | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 10 | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 10a | 100 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 10b | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 11 | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 12/102 | 475 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 13 | 100 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 14 | 125 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 14a | 125 | 175 | |
| Hayes form 14b | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 15 | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 16 | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 17 | 150 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 18 | 200 | 225 | |
| Hayes form 19 | 75 | 125 | |
| Hayes form 20 | 75 | 125 | |
| Hayes form 21 | 100 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 22 | 100 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 23 Casserole | 70 | 220 | |
| Hayes form 23a Casserole | 70 | 150 | |
| Hayes form 23b Casserole | 150 | 220 | |
| Hayes form 24 Dish | 175 | 225 | |
| Hayes form 25 Rectangular Dish | 100 | 200 | |
| Hayes form 26 Flat Dish | 150 | 225 | |
| Hayes form 27 Dish | 160 | 220 | |
| Hayes form 28 Dish | 200 | 225 | |
| Hayes form 29 Dish | 200 | 220 | |
| Hayes form 30 Dish | 200 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 31 Dish | 200 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 32 | 210 | 300 | |
| Hayes form 32/58 | 280 | 420 | |
| Hayes form 33 | 200 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 44 Small Bowl | 220 | 300 | |
| Hayes form 45 Large Bowl | 200 | 300 | |
| Hayes form 45a Large Bowl | 230 | 320 | |
| Hayes form 46 Large Bowl | 275 | 325 | |
| Hayes form 48 Plate | 220 | 320 | |
| Hayes form 50 Large Dish | 230 | 300 | |
| Hayes form 50a Large Dish | 230 | 300 | |
| Hayes form 50b Large Dish | 250 | 350 | |
| Hayes form 52 Small Bowl | 300 | 400 | |
| Hayes form 52b Small Bowl | 280 | 400 | |
| Hayes form 53 | 320 | 430 | |
| Hayes form 54 Dish | 350 | 400 | |
| Hayes form 57 | 350 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 56 Dish | 360 | 430 | |
| Hayes form 57 | 325 | 400 | |
| Hayes form 58 | 290 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 58a | 290 | 375 | |
| Hayes form 58b | 290 | 375 | |
| Hayes form 59 | 320 | 420 | |
| Hayes form 59a | 320 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 59b | 320 | 420 | |
| Hayes form 61b | 325 | 475 | |
| Hayes form 61a | 325 | 400 | |
| Hayes form 61b | 380 | 475 | |
| Hayes form 62 | 350 | 425 | |
| Hayes form 63 | 360 | 440 | |
| Hayes form 64 | 380 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 67 | 360 | 470 | |
| Hayes form 68 | 350 | 425 | |
| Hayes form 71 | 370 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 72 | 400 | 430 | |
| Hayes form 73 | 400 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 74 | 400 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 76 | 400 | 475 | |
| Hayes form 76a | 425 | 475 | |
| Hayes form 76b | 400 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 78 | 360 | 440 | |
| Hayes form 79 | 400 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 80b | 500 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 80b/99 | 450 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 81 | 400 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 81a | 400 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 81b | 400 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 82 | 430 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 82a | 430 | 475 | |
| Hayes form 82b | 460 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 83 | 420 | 460 | |
| Hayes form 84 | 440 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 85 | 450 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 85a | 450 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 85b | 450 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 86 | 475 | 525 | |
| Hayes form 87 | 450 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 87a | 450 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 87b | 475 | 530 | |
| Hayes form 87c | 480 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 88 | 500 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 89 | 450 | 520 | |
| Hayes form 90 | 550 | 620 | |
| Hayes form 90b | 500 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 91 | 350 | 450 | |
| Hayes form 91a | 370 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 91a/b | 370 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 91b | 370 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 91b/c | 500 | 530 | |
| Hayes form 91c | 500 | 600 | |
| Hayes form 91d | 580 | 675 | |
| Hayes form 92 | 400 | 540 | |
| Hayes form 93 | 470 | 540 | |
| Hayes form 93a | 470 | 500 | |
| Hayes form 93b | 500 | 540 | |
| Hayes form 94 | 400 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 96 | 500 | 550 | |
| Hayes form 97 | 475 | 600 | |
| Hayes form 98 | 500 | 580 | |
| Hayes form 99 | 500 | 580 | |
| Hayes form 99a | 500 | 540 | |
| Hayes form 99b | 530 | 580 | |
| Hayes form 99c | 560 | 620 | |
| Hayes form 100 | 580 | 620 | |
| Hayes form 101 | 550 | 600 | |
| Hayes form 102 | 475 | 625 | |
| Hayes form 103 | 500 | 575 | |
| Hayes form 103a | 500 | 575 | |
| Hayes form 103b | 500 | 575 | |
| Hayes form 104 | 500 | 625 | |
| Hayes form 104a | 500 | 580 |
|
| Hayes form 104b | 570 | 600 | |
| Hayes form 104c | 550 | 625 | |
| Hayes form 105 | 580 | 675 | |
| Hayes form 106 | 600 | 675 | |
| Hayes form 107 | 580 | 675 |
|
| Hayes form 108 | 600 | 630 | |
| Hayes form 109 | 580 | 675 | |
| Hayes form 109 | 580 | 650 | |
| Hayes form 109 | 610 | 675 | |
| Hayes form 182 | 150 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 195 | 70 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 196 | 70 | 250 | |
| Hayes form 197 | 175 |
Notes [edit]
- ^ Tyers 1996, pp.80-82
- ^ Hayes 1972, p. 19–20.
- ^ For the detailed typology and distribution maps, see Hayes 1972 and Hayes 1980
- ^ Hayes, John. (1972). Late Roman Pottery. London: British School at Rome (hardcover, ISBN 0-904152-00-6)
- ^ Hayes, John. 1980. A Supplement to Late Roman Pottery. London: British School at Rome ISBN 0-904152-10-3
- ^ Fulford, Michael & Peacock, David. (1984). The Avenue du President Habib Bourguiba, Salammbo: the pottery and other ceramic objects from the site excavations at Carthage. (The British Mission 1.2.) Sheffield: University of Sheffield, Department of Prehistory and Archaeology.
- ^ 1981. Enciclopedia dell'arte antica classica e orientale. Atlante delle Forme Ceramiche I, Ceramica Fine Romana nel Bacino Mediterraneo (Medio e Tardo Impero). Rome: Istituto della Enciclopedia italiana.
- ^ Mackensen, Michael (1993). Die spätantiken Sigillata- und Lampentöpfereien von el Mahrine (Nordtunesien): Studien zur nordafrikanischen Feinkeramik des 4. bis 7. Jahrhunderts. Munich: Beck (hardcover, ISBN 978-3-406-37015-1)
- ^ Bonifay, Michel. 2004. Études sur la céramique romaine tardive d’Afrique. (British Archaeological Reports International Series 1301) Oxford: B. A. R.
- ^ See Hayes (1972, 1980)
References [edit]
- Hayes, John. (1972). Late Roman Pottery. London: British School at Rome (hardcover, ISBN 0-904152-00-6)
- Hayes, John. (1980). "Supplement to Late Roman Pottery". London: British School at Rome. Worldcat
- Mackensen, Michael (1993). Die spätantiken Sigillata- und Lampentöpfereien von el Mahrine (Nordtunesien): Studien zur nordafrikanischen Feinkeramik des 4. bis 7. Jahrhunderts. Munich : Beck (hardcover, ISBN 978-3-406-37015-1)
- Tyers, Paul (1996). Roman Pottery in Britain, London: B. T. Batsford ISBN 0-7134-7412-2
