Kharga Late Roman-Byzantine Yellow Slipped Ware
Egypt/Western desert
3rd - 5th c. CE
Middle Roman, Late Roman, Byzantine
General Information
Large quanitities of this ware have been found in the Kharga Oasis starting around the 3rd century CE, suggesting they were produced in the oasis. It was primarily used by potters to make double-handed flasks (similar to Hellenistic lagynoi) and small bowls. Like lagynoi, this ware is strongly associated with the storage and transportation of wine.
Oasis Yellow-slipped table ware has a medium-bodied, medium-fine to medium-coarse textured fabric, fired orange-pink to yellow-brown. Common surface decoration are spiral and wave motifs in red or dark orange, which is another indication that this ware was produced in the Kharga Oasis, where such stylistic traditions are clearly attested. Similar patterns have been observed in other Kharga-produced wares, such as Kharga Ptolemaic Painted ware.
