Saucer

Art Historical Context

This delicate terracotta saucer, a modest yet evocative artifact from ancient Rome, exemplifies the everyday pottery that shaped daily life in the classical world. Measuring just 1 1/8 inches (2.8 cm) in height and 2 7/8 inches (7.4 cm) across, its simple, shallow form—classified among vases—suggests practical use for serving sauces, offerings, or small portions of food and drink. Crafted from fired clay, terracotta was the workhorse medium of Roman artisans, prized for its affordability, durability, and subtle earthy warmth. In Roman culture, such saucers were ubiquitous in households, taver...