ROMAN POTTERY FOUND IN BRITAIN. 
21 
In the second half of the first century, blacking by means of a 
glossy varnish coating came into use, and both continued to be 
practised on the same kind of vessels side by side till the latter 
prevailed.'" 
Early Roman pottery is characterised by neatness, regularity, 
and fitness of form. The profiles of the holders of large vessels 
are rounded to obtain the greatest capacity ; the widest diameter 
is at or below the middle ; the width of base is always sufficient 
to ensure stability. 
In these respects the later productions of the period show a 
gradual falling off. Vessels which are known by reliable evidence 
to belong to the end of the fourth or beginning of the fifth 
century, or about the time of the Roman departure, often appear 
topdieavy, clumsy, or elongated to an inordinate degree. Their 
profiles have a strongly pronounced concavity above or below, 
and terminate in a ridiculously small foot. 
Advantage can be taken of these peculiarities to determine 
approximately their relative dates. If, for example, the height, 
and diameters of rim, body and base of a particular type of 
vessel at different known dates are obtained and the percentage 
proportions of these diameters to the height (taken as ioo), 
tabulated, the resulting table of proportions furnishes a standard 
of reference for determining approximately the date of others 
belonging to the same type of vessel. 
The compilation of a table of standard proportions is not 
possible for every type of vessel made during the Roman period, 
but only for those produced under Roman influence and composed 
of separate members—rim or mouth-piece, neck, body or bulge, 
and base—capable of measurement, and of which the diameter is 
not much greater than the height, such as pitchers, flagons, 
bottles, flasks, ollse or cooking pots, beakers, goblets, &c. 
The graceful and fantastic fancy displayed by the Late Celtic 
potters in the form and ornamentation of their wares did not 
altogether die out, but, with the growth of provincial influence 
and decline of Italian supremacy, reasserted itself in the revival 
of certain conventional peculiarities. The markedly concave 
profile of the lower portion was a general feature of Late Celtic 
pottery which created instability, and was usually re-dressed by 
# Dragendorff, Bonn. Jalirb XCVL, p. 87. 
