Roman North African Redware Vessel

The Roman Empire, c. 200–400 AD

A superb example of Roman North African craftsmanship, this redware vessel features a gracefully globular body set on a short circular foot, tapering into a sharply drawn neck with a wide, funnel-shaped mouth and an everted lip. Twin strap handles rise elegantly from the shoulder to the rim, accentuating its balanced, utilitarian form.

Fashioned from a fine-grained, brownish-orange clay enriched with mica and lime inclusions, the vessel is coated in a lustrous dark red slip, applied with care to the exterior and stopping just inside the neck and near the base. Subtle horizontal ridges across the midsection reveal the artisan's hand during the wheel-throwing process, capturing a fleeting moment of ancient production frozen in clay.

This vessel reflects the widespread distribution and enduring popularity of North African red-slipped wares across the Roman Empire, prized for both their refined appearance and practical function. A striking fusion of elegance and everyday use.

Excellent condition. Intact. Light surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, minor nicks and chips, with encrusted patina and earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 12,0cm x 10,4cm x 10,8cm.

Provenance: From the estate of Eileen Woolfe (1909–1967), who acquired the piece in Egypt during the 1920s. Subsequently brought to Sweden.