The Drama of the Roman Dodecahedron – And Why We’re Not Afraid 😬✨

There’s been quite a bit of drama and discussion surrounding a particular Roman dodecahedron recently. For those of you who may not be aware, here’s a quick synopsis: A particularly nice Roman dodecahedron was recently discovered, and someone decided to make a replica of it. So far, so good, right? Well, the trouble started when the replica was listed for sale on eBay, and the seller used images from the discovery group in the listing. They did credit the group, but it was still a bit of a faux pas.

When the excavation team found the listing, things took an interesting turn. They claimed to have copyright on the find due to all the hard work they put into discovering it, citing the effort required to secure funding as part of their justification. It’s certainly a fascinating perspective, especially considering that the funding came from public money.

As a company that regularly replicates ancient objects, this situation could seem a bit intimidating. But here’s why we’re not afraid:

Objects Are Out of Copyright

In the UK, objects generally go out of copyright 70 years after the author’s death. For perspective, some of the objects we draw inspiration from are over 28,000 years old. Even Disney had to relinquish control over early versions of Mickey Mouse. The Roman dodecahedron is an ancient object, and no one can stop me from being inspired by it or creating something inspired by the past using my years of expertise in making vessels with ancient tools and techniques.

Inspiration Is Part of the Art World

It’s how art has always worked; it’s a fundamental truth of creativity. Every artist builds on the work of previous creators, and this trend will continue as long as human creativity exists. And here’s the thing about artists: If you try to squeeze or impede their creativity, the adversity will only fuel their fire. Some of the most impactful art in history was created during times of repression and turmoil.

Inspiration is not something you can police—deal with it. While we won’t be making a copy of the dodecahedron (since it’s not ceramic), we are not afraid that this possessive attempt to keep history for the few will affect our work in pottery. Although we draw huge inspiration from original artefacts, we always aim to capture the spirit of ancient objects, not make a carbon copy. There will always be differences in every piece we make—even between two vessels created and fired in the same studio, inspired by the same original artefact.

Our Work with Museums

We are incredibly fortunate to work with museums—the keepers of our precious history—who regularly hire us to replicate ceramic vessels. We’ve even recently been involved in the Pitt Rivers Museum's Makers and Fakers project, which explored the benefits and potential drawbacks of replica production within the museum world, and many benefits were identified. We are repeatedly invited to these events because museums trust us. They understand the value of our expert skills in decoding the secrets of these pottery treasures. We uncover the techniques of the potters, their tools, and their intentions. It’s through this collaborative process that we expand our collective understanding of history.

A Reminder: History Is for Everyone

At the end of the day, we’ll continue potting and being inspired by our collective history. We’ll keep celebrating the past and bringing it to life for all to enjoy, knowing that the true value of ancient objects lies in the stories they tell and the connections we make with them.

Image by ELWJ media