Godmanchester BB2 Jar, Child's Cooking Pot

Handcrafted Replica Roman Black Burnished Ware Toy Cooking Jar – A Miniature Mystery

Details

This delightful little cooking jar stands at a dinky 10 cm tall and is based on a 2nd-century original believed to have been made in Essex.

But why is it so small? The original of this jar was found among the grave goods of a child buried at Godmanchester, leading researchers to believe that it may have been made in miniature as a toy.

The grave grouping consisted of:

• The cremated remains of a child placed within a Samian Beaker
• Two clay animals – a horse and a bull
• Three additional pots, including this tiny jar
• Two bracelets and two metal fittings

Whoever this child was, they appear to have been greatly treasured.

This tiny vessel was made in the same way as full-sized Black Burnished Ware (BB2) cooking jars, which were wheel-thrown in large numbers and distributed throughout Roman Britain. They are sometimes called BB2 wares, differentiating them from BB1 wares, which were hand-formed rather than wheel-thrown.

The term Black Burnished Ware comes from their distinctive polished and blackened surface, often decorated with an incised lattice pattern. The black colouration is the result of the firing technique, which involved starving the kiln of oxygen during the final stages of firing.

Materials

Earthenware, terracotta

Dimensions

Height: Approx. 150 mm
Diameter: Approx. 120 mm

Production

This museum-quality replica has been entirely handmade in Northumberland by Potted History, inspired by original ancient artefacts.

• Handcrafted using traditional Roman techniques
• Fired between 800°C - 1,000°C, replicating authentic Black Burnished Ware production
• Each piece is unique, with variations in surface colour and texture, just as seen in original Roman pottery

Health & Safety

This museum-quality replica was made using authentic Roman-era tools and techniques.

• This is an unglazed pot with a porous surface, meaning it will absorb some of the flavours during the cooking process, adding depth to future dishes.
• However, this also means that the pot does not meet modern health and safety standards, so we do not recommend using it for cooking.
• Although our replicas are sometimes used for Experimental Archaeology, if you choose to cook with this item, you do so at your own risk.

When the Romans used these pots, they relied on high cooking temperatures to eliminate bacteria.

• Heating food to over 70°C for at least 10 minutes would have killed most disease-causing bacteria.
• Boiling food at 100°C would have been even more effective.

Ordering Information

• 'Add to Basket' Items: Ready to ship immediately.
• 'Pre-order' Items: Handmade to order within 90 days (longer for international orders). If your order includes both 'Add to Basket' and 'Pre-order' items, they will be shipped together once all items are ready.

Shipping

• Standard shipping: Sent via second-class postal service.
• Faster delivery: If you require first-class shipping, please contact us for a custom quote.

Own a piece of Roman history – order your replica Black Burnished Ware cooking jar today!