Vindolanda Cheese Press Second

Details

Our replica is based on one example on display in the British Museum; the cheese press would have been a must-have kitchen gadget for every good Roman cook. Cheese was a very popular food for the Romans, with wide varieties being produced from soft cheeses, like cottage cheese, to hard-smoked cheeses.
Although it is not clear the exact date when cheese was invented, it has formed part of our diet for decades, and the details of Roman cheese making were described in detail by the Roman writer Columella when he wrote De Re Rustica.

We know of cheese presses making up part of the Vindolanda Museum and Wrexham Museum collections, but they are so ubiquitous that we would expect them to be in any museum with a Roman collection.

Vindolanda Race to £100K: Realising the potential of pottery.

 We fired this item in the replica Roman kiln at Vindolanda Roman Fort, and part of the proceeds from its sale will be going to the Vindolanda, Realising the potential of pottery appeal. 

 Archaeologically, pottery is a treasure trove of information providing insight into many aspects of ancient life. Through research into pottery sherds, archaeologists can accurately date sites, make observations about what people were eating through the analysis of food residue, and better understand trade routes, which can help inform understanding of economy and consumption.  

Additionally, pottery provides a window into customs and social practices giving us a fuller picture of the people who made, bought and used these objects. And because of the hands-on nature of pottery production, it is common to find evidence of the makers preserved in the surface of the clay, moments in time held in ceramic and visible to us thousands of years later. Pottery truly brings the past to life, and for that reason, we are supporting the Vindolanda Race to £100K: Realising the Potential of Pottery. With every purchase made from the Vindolanda Appeal Collection, we will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the fundraiser, allowing you to help whilst also getting your hands on a museum-quality Roman replica that was fired in a replica Roman kiln at Vindolanda Roman Fort. 

Slight Second 

Seconds are items that, although very beautiful, have a minor defect. We endeavour to photograph them so that you can see the small flaws, so please refer carefully to the images before you purchase.  

Materials

Earthenware, terracotta

Dimensions

Large Approx. 50 mm tall, 150 mm diameter

Small Approx. 30 mm tall, 110 mm diameter

Production

This replica Roman pot has been hand-made in Northumberland by Potted History, inspired by original artefacts. It has been wood-fired in an authentic replica of a Roman Pottery Kiln at Vindolanda Museum to a temperature of between 800°C & 1000°C, using the same techniques the original potters would have employed nearly two thousand years ago. This process often results in variations of the surface colour and texture. When ordering, you may not get the exact vessel photographed, and the colouring may vary slightly.  

Health and Safety

This is a Museum Quality Replica made using the tools and techniques that would have been used during the Roman era. This is an unglazed pot with a porous surface. It will absorb some of the flavours during the cooking process, adding to the flavour of future dishes. However, it also means that this pot does not meet modern Health and Safety standards, so we do not advise using it for cooking. When the Romans cooked in these pots, they applied sufficient heat to the pot and contents to ensure that all bacteria were killed. 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.