NORTH AFRICA, CIRCA LATE 3RD-EARLY 4TH CENTURY A.D.

The inscription on the neck reads, “Navigius decorated [it].” Navigius was a prominent potter working in the province of Africa Proconsularis (modern-day Tunisia). In the 3rd century A.D., potters in the region began to exploit the local fine red clay and produce wares inspired by those made in Italy. Many of the vessels were exported throughout the Roman Empire, travelling with agricultural goods harvested in “the granary of the empire” (see no. 40 in Burell, et al., Michael C. Carlos Museum: Highlights of the Collections).