Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Wares used during the banquets of wealthy families were, instead, made in precious ceramic and consisted, for the most part, of trays, plates, water and wine cups.

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Among the fine wares, the sigillata, also known as Aretine  ceramics (from Arezzo, its most renowned centre of production, beginning with the mid- I century BC), were particularly diffused. Sigillata wares were characterized by a coral-red glaze that could be plain or embellished by decorative motifs, which were impressed or in relief. They are known as sigilla , from which the name of the ceramic class is derived.

"Terra sigillata” plate
The centre of this plate has a rectangular stamp with the name of the maker: Fuscus Seri Hilari, that is to say Fuscus, slave of Serius Hilarius. The object was made in a pottery in northern Italy, probably operating at the time of the Emperor Tiberius.

Provenance: Palagi Collection
Datation: Early decades of 1st century AD
Material: Clay
Dimensions: h cm 3; diam cm 17,5
Inventory #: Rom 1565