As it has been established Roman redware pottery is one of the most important sources through which we can get a glimpse of the ancient Rome and actually feel the real Roman life. With red color and solid construction, this pottery style was a standard fixture for any Roman civilization. That is why it is not enough to consider this redware as a mere object of everyday use by ancient Romans since it speaks about the skills of the Roman craftsmen and their further creative progress. To trace the origin of Ancient Roman redware and to understand its various uses with its cultural connection and how it has influenced the modern knowledge of Roman civilization, this article will discuss about it.
Background to Ancient Roman Redware
Roman redware originated in the first one hundred years before the Christian era when Roman craftsmen made a vast amount of such pottery. Produced from fine clay and fired in kilns redware which was characterized by red or orange colour. Redware pottery was made within the extended sphere of Roman ceramics that included, among others, domestic utensils, storage vessels and ornaments.
Consequently, distribution of redware was greatly associated with emergent of Roman Empire. With expansion of the territories and of its provinces, a growing need for the utilitarian objects was felt and pottery was also one of them. Fired vetch was being shipped throughout the empire from Britain to North Africa so common household item known in both city and country. The cost and utility of pottery for everyone pushed it to become an important part of the supply of many people in the Roman society.
Use and Function of Roman Redware Ware
Earthenware engraved by the Romans was quite diverse and was used for various household objects. It was a good conductor of heat also, and Gaussian for cooking, preserving and warming food too. 21 In Roman kitchens pots and pans, bowls, plates and jugs made of redware were used and these ceramics materials has many types. These vessels were for example applied for food preparation, for setting simple meals up through organized and served meals that indicated more importance such as luxury classes had.
However, apart from being used in cooking recipes, redware was also used to contain liquid such as wine and oil. Larger red ware amphora were used to transport such liquids long distances thus making trade within Roman Empire easier. Due to affordability and portability of redware it became easier to trade and the Romans could easily get different products, food and beverages from different provinces.
Ornations of Ancient Romanian Redware
Even though it was not artistic, ancient Roman redware was mostly functional in nature. Most redware vessels offered were either surface painted, had simple shallow impressions made on the surface or were entirely stamped. Of the latter it can be said that some of the most elaborate ones included mythological scenes, animal or geometrical designs in molded relief. These decorations were put on the pottery before firing process and by doing so the pottery become aesthetical item and not just a utilitarian one.
Besides relief decorations were polished or some redware potteries had a slip, a thin layer of a watery clay to make the gen appearance. This provided the pottery a nice looking and smooth surface finishing and at the same time was less prone to dirt and stains. Analyses of such features as functionality and art appreciation show that such redware was popular throughout the ancient Roman empire.
Sources: Production Centers and Trade of Ancient Roman Redware
The production of the ancient Roman redware was mostly centralized in some areas of the entire Roman Empire. Districts of Italy, Gaul and some regions of Spain were famous especially for the red-figured vases. Every region had its own tendencies, however, the general approach to work was similar within the entire empire.
The ever increasing need for redware saw large pottery manufacturing units which were called the officinae where most of the skilled labor force was used to provide for the ever demanding Romans. These workshops provided a large number of redware with local pottery distributed to other provinces. Jugs of wine, oil, or grain were precisely placed on ships to be sold in other regions of this world so that markets for the ancient Roman redware were created in distant locations it was made in.
Discoveries Made in Archaeology: An Assessment of Ancient Roman Redware
These findings of ancient Roman redware in the Archaeological dig have immensely helped historians and archaeologist discover the real picture of the society in that era of period. Redware pottery was mainly used in the people’s residential areas, their homes, farms and villas in course of the daily activities. These finds assist researchers in understanding the eating times, trading practices, and other etiquette of the Roman Empire.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of redware as a type of pottery found in ancient Rome is its potential to tell viewers about everyday Romans. Red ware pots and entire sets were not made of such expensive metals or rare materials as for example pottery china, but they were cheap and thus available to any person regardless of social status. As such, it becomes an invaluable object of study regarding the lives of ordinary Romans of the time.
Relationship between Modern Influence and the Legacy of Ancient Roman Redware
The making of ancient Roman redware pottery was suddenly abandoned at the time of the fall of the Roman kingdom, though the effects of the production have remained felt in pottery and ceramic making up to this date. Today there are already too many potters and ceramists who have chosen Roman redware simpleness for imitation. Contemporary potter still employs the techniques of Roman artisans, for example through the use of relief decoration and firing in a kiln. Also, redware has emerged as a favorite focusing area among the historians, archaeologists and art lovers. Many museums today exhibit collections of ancient Roman redware with people obtaining the opportunity to appreciate these cool pieces of pottery.
Conclusion
Redware is greater than an ancient Roman pottery; it is the sign of mastery, ingenuity, and existence within the empire. Redware pottery: necessary for daily use in the Roman House and an important part of a trade goods Export. Due to the beauty of many of the created artifacts and their functionality, redware was to stay popular for centuries and to become a great piece of legacy.
In writing this paper, I wanted to emphasize that ancient Roman redware remains one of the fascinating sources of information about the daily life in theRoman Empire for archeologists as long as it is not exposed to fire and deterioration. Whether enjoyed for aesthetic reasons or valued for its purpose, redware has become a splendid exhibit of the resourcefulness as well as innovation of the Roman civilization.