WHAT IS THE NENE VALLEY WARE?

WHAT IS THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD?

Period of the widest Greek influence, the era between the death of Alexander the Great (323 bc) and the rise of the Roman Empire (27/30 bc), when a single, uniform civilization, based on Greek traditions, prevailed all over the ancient world, from India in the east, to Spain in the west. During these three centuries, Greek culture crossed many political frontiers and spread through many cities founded at that time, especially the new capitals of Alexandria, Antioch, and Pergamum. A common civilization became established throughout the known world for the first time, one which integrated the cultural heritage of each region and subsequently left a deep impression on the institutions, thought, religions, and art of the Roman, Parthian, and Kushan Empires. The Hellenistic cultural influence continued to be a powerful force in the Roman and Parthian Empires during the early centuries ad.

WHAT IS THE HANGING BOWL?

Thin bronze, shallow bowls found in Anglo Saxon graves up until the 7th century, an important part of a Celtic metalworking tradition which has its origins in the Roman and pre Roman Iron Age. They have three equally spaced suspension rings, fixed to the bowl by escutcheons usually decorated with colored enamel and millefiori.

WHAT IS THE DOLIUM ?

A large Greek or Roman coarse earthenware vessel with a wide mouth and spherical form. It was used to store wine and oil; later, smaller vessels were produced. [culeus]

WHAT IS THE CACCABUS ?

CACCABUS: A type of Greek or Roman pot or vessel for cooking any kind of food. It was made of bronze, silver, or earthenware, and had a variety of forms. The most common shape was like an egg with an opening at the top that was closed with a lid, while the vessel rested on a trivet (tripus).

WHAT IS THE BUTTON AND LOOP FASTENER?

BUTTON AND LOOP FASTENER: A fastener made of a metal circle connected to a metal loop fixed to an object and used to fasten to another object by means of a button or a loop. The usage of these items is unclear, and could include use for animals or for dress.

WHAT IS THE BROOCH ?

BROOCH: An ornamental pin or piece of decorative metalwork attached by a pin, that was either a fastener or ornament; they are found from c. 1400 bc. Brooches developed from the Roman fibula, which was similar to a safety pin, and were first made at La Tène on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Their styles vary, especially in the twisting of the spring, and may be used to date other finds. There were long brooches, rosette or circular brooches, and penannular types.

WHAT IS THE BARBOTINE ?

BARBOTINE: A technique of decorating pottery by adding thick slip to the surface of a pot before firing. The term also refers to the creamy mixture of kaolin clay itself, for pottery ornamented with barbotine, and the technique of applying an incrustation of this mixture to a ceramic surface for decorative effect. The slip was not applied evenly, but in order to form a thick incrustation in patches or trails. On certain types of pottery, such as the Nene Valley ware, the barbotine decoration may form a picture or a pattern. Sometimes the result is simply a roughened surface, rather like icing upon a cake. The method was particularly popular in Roman Gaul and Britain. [barbotine decoration]

WHAT IS THE AUREUS ?

AUREUS: A gold coin that was a unit of currency in the Roman Empire between 30 bc and 310 ad.

WHAT IS THE AMPULLA ?

AMPULLA: A small Greek or Roman globular flask or bottle with two handles and a short narrow neck. It was used for holding oil for bathers (called ampulla oleria) or wine, oil, vinegar, and other beverages for table use (then called ampulla potaria). These small containers were usually the form of a globe or bladder, though sometimes shaped like a lentil with rounded sides. [ampullae (pl.)]