Pottery in Roman Art

Pottery in Roman Art

Ceramic art was an integral part of roman art. Most of the people in Rome valued the art of making ceramics mainly for selling while some people required the ceramics for utensils in their households. Roman domestic pottery was categorized into different groups depending on the forms and the uses. Unlike many other people who practice pottery, the Roman ceramic was mainly used to make braziers, potty seats, and even ovens. Some people made water pipes, storage containers, and they also made dolls for children to play with, and spindle whorls. Ideally, the roman pottery had taken a different root, and this contributed to the construction of the Roman culture. Some of the first ceramic pieces to be constructed in the roman culture was the roman amphora, which was a piece of multipurpose equipment that not only opened the eyes of the Romans to explore the world of pottery but also acted as the first commodity of trade among the Romans. Ideally, an in-depth evaluation of the Roman pottery is likely to enhance our understanding of the construction of Roman ceramic art.

Roman Ceramic art can be traced back to the Neolithic period, and it continued to grow following that era. Gradually, the art grew more profound, and from making the roman amphora, the molding of another roman amphora, the roman art explored other topics such as utensils, cups, and plates that were necessary for the lives of the Romans. The problem explains that “the production of Roman pottery demonstrates how technology formed part of political, social, economic, and religious dimensions of daily life in antiquity (Cuomo 2007) mirroring Roman society” (4). Ideally, the construction of the ceramics created a new form of art among the Romanians. The ceramic that was made by the Romans were meant to be used in almost every aspect of their lives. Through the incorporation of many other elements of creativity, the art grew even more reliable and more powerful.

The artwork developed from just making the ceramics to decorating the ceramics. Arguably, the decorations that were incorporated in the art continued to become great and more creative. With time, the art developed by the Romans had gained popularity in the market, and many people were buying these goods at a high rate. Following this, the roman artistry of pottery became a topic that was used by most people.

Cited as the origin of ceramic art, Romans has expressed diverse knowledge in the art of pottery, considering the amount of creativity they constructed as well as the ceramic pottery that they made. A considerable part of the roman empire is associated with the development of pottery to the point that it cannot be described in any way other than with the ceramics. The trial and era mainly drove the genesis of pottery. The Romans would make an item and use it, taking note of the shortcomings that the item presented and incorporating other aspects such as necessities. For instance, after making mugs, they noticed that they were thick and created a need that required a glass that is thinner and lighter. Following this need, they created a more delicate glass that was portable and ensured that they would limit its fragility of the glass since it was so thin. Gradually, these people made plates and cups. They moved to mold bowls and spoons that would aid in the serving of food and dishes. With time, the roman ceramics included equipment such as the things that are required in the house. Bossio and Chase explain that “The Roman culture was continuously changing due to the constant assimilation of new territories and people” (22). The construction of the Roman culture continually developed as a result of the necessity that was created as a result of the development of the need and the fact that the ceramics had become an essential commodity in the market. With the incorporation of various aspects of creativity and artistry, the art continually became intriguing to many people in the market.

Some of the changes that were noticed in the roman ceramic art contributed to the development of the popularity that the art gained over time. One of the most noticeable changes that were seen in the literature included the creation of ceramic lamps, that were not only important in the aspect that it created the aesthetic that people were looking for in the local markets and the homes. Peacock explains that “a peasant potter takes part in the commerce of the market-place his objective may be to make a profit and expand his operations, but equally he may merely wish to exchange pots for other goods so that he can live and meet his social obligations” (7). The art of making ceramic art continues to gain popularity among the Romans and the neighboring communities in the aspect that they bought these goods often. With time, the roman pottery culture grew to incorporate household items such as pipes and bath tabs. After discovering the methods and formulae that they can use to make these items more durable and less fragile, the Romans moved to the construction of things like the bath tabs. The more complicated this equipment became, the more the people learned to understand these works and borrow some of these skills that the Romans used to make their pottery. With time, this type of art had grown in popularity and was practiced in more than one country.

Works Cited

Bossio, Evan Robert, et al. “Historical Evolution of Roman Infantry Arms And Armor.” (2018).

Peacock, David PS. Pottery in the Roman world: an ethnoarchaeological approach. Longman Publishing Group, 1982.

The problem, Jeroen, Daniele Malfitana, and John Lund. “Pottery, Roman Empire.” The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (2013).