Details
This replica hip flask has been made using the same hand and wheel forming techniques that would have been employed by the original Roman potter nearly 1900 years ago.
As with all such decorated Samian Ware pieces, the process of recreating them began with the making of a set of punches carved from fine terracotta clay. Once fired, these were used to create the design within a two-part flask mould. This mould was, in turn, fired, and the final flask was formed within it.
Once pressed into the bowl and dried for some hours, the flask, having now shrunk by a few millimetres, could be removed from the mould and the handles and spout were added. After a further period of drying, the pot was dipped into the colloidal terra sigillata slip (liquid clay), which, when fired, gives the pot its characteristic colour and shine.
Finally, after drying for another week, the bowl was fired to nearly 1100°C. All of these processes are based on those used by Samian Ware workshops in Gaul during the first, second and third centuries.
'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready.
'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.
Materials
Terracotta, red slip finish
Dimensions
Approx 195 mm diameter, 160 mm tall
As with all my Museum Quality Replicas, we have made this pot, as the original would have been, entirely by hand from natural clay and using replicas of the types of tools that the ancient makers would have used. As each pot varies, you may not receive the same cup in the image, but you can be sure that your pot will be one of a kind due to the variations caused by the firing process.
Health & Safety
This pot is a Museum museum-quality replica made using the tools and techniques that ancient potters would have used during this era. As this is an unglazed pot with a porous surface, it will absorb some of the flavours during the cooking process or when used as food storage, which does add to the taste of future dishes. However, it does also mean that this pot does not meet modern Health and Safety standards, and therefore, we do not advise that you use it for cooking or storing foodstuffs. When ancient cooks used these pots, they relied on applying sufficient heat to the pot and contents to ensure that the heat killed all bacteria. Heating to over 70°C for at least 10 minutes would have killed most disease-causing bacteria, and temperatures of 100°C would do even more.
Postage
All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please contact us for a quote. Many Thanks
