Pewter tableware : its function, significance and contribution to our understanding of life in Roman Britain through a case-study of material held in the British Museum
Romano-British pewter vessels have often been interpreted as functional, utilitarian pieces, which served as the typical dining equipment of wealthy villa owners in Late Roman Britain. A substantial collection of over 100 Romano-British pewter vessels held by the British Museum provides a case study from which to investigate the functional aspects of use alongside themes relating to wider social, economic, religious and art-historical issues. While this material often lacks detailed contextual information, it does represent one of the largest collections ofRomano-British pewter and is the first time it has been examined as a whole. In addition to producing a detailed catalogue of the pewter vessels from 16 sites, this thesis examines the relationship of pewter vessels to contemporary ceramic, glass and silver forms and provides a comprehensive typology. New XRF analysis provides insights into manufacture and the use of raw materials in later Roman Britain. A number ofthe pewter vessels appear with previously unrecorded surface marks and scars that are discussed as possible evidence for function and use. In particular, a number of the vessels appear to have been 'ritually pierced' or 'deliberately holed' rendering
Smith, Lindsey
Pewter tableware : its function, significance and contribution to our understanding of life in Roman Britain through a case-study of material held in the British Museum. Romano-British pewter vessels have often been interpreted as functional, utilitarian pieces, which served as the typical dining equipment of wealthy villa owners in Late Roman Britain. A substantial collection of over 100 Romano-British pewter vessels held by the British Museum provides a case study from which to investigate the functional aspects of use alongside themes relating to wider social, economic, religious and art-historical issues. While this material often lacks detailed contextual information, it does represent one of the largest collections ofRomano-British pewter and is the first time it has been examined as a whole. In addition to producing a detailed catalogue of the pewter vessels from 16 sites, this thesis examines the relationship of pewter vessels to contemporary ceramic, glass and silver forms and provides a comprehensive typology. New XRF analysis provides insights into manufacture and the use of raw materials in later Roman Britain. A number ofthe pewter vessels appear with previously unrecorded surface marks and scars that are discussed as possible evidence for function and use. In particular, a number of the vessels appear to have been 'ritually pierced' or 'deliberately holed' rendering
tableware function significance life roman_britain case_study material hold british_museum romano_british vessel often interpret functional utilitarian piece serve typical dining equipment wealthy villa owner late roman_britain substantial collection romano_british vessel hold british_museum provide case_study investigate functional_aspect use alongside theme relate wider_social economic religious art_historical issue material often lack detailed contextual_information represent one_large collection british first_time examine whole addition produce detailed_catalogue vessel site examines_relationship vessel contemporary ceramic glass silver form provide_comprehensive typology new xrf analysis provide_insight manufacture_use raw_material later roman_britain number ofthe vessel appear previously_unrecorded surface mark discuss possible evidence function use particular number vessel appear deliberately hole rendering