Pitcher with sparse glazing

Pitcher with cylindrical, fluted neck, moderately broad rim, ovoid body, flat bottom with very slight prominence, ribbon handle set flush with the rim, and high cylindrical spout applied to the shoulder. The pitcher’s thin greenish lead glaze is applied exclusively to the outer surface and is characterized by areas that have been more or less absorbed. The find belongs to the type known as Sparse Glazed, a glazed tableware pottery that is in fact a direct evolution of the heavy glazed or Forum Ware with the same glazing. In this case, however, the glazing is spread unevenly and gives the wares a highly irregular, spotty appearance (hence the term Sparse Glazed). The type would seem to be an evolution or variant of pitchers with undulating necks and a perforated septum between the neck and spout, which is typical of the tenth–eleventh centuries.

Beatrice Brancazi
 

Entry published on 12 February 2025

The container is intact and in good condition. 

Mazzucato Otto, La ceramica a vetrina pesante, Roma 1972, p. 35, fig. 76;
Paroli Lidia, Ceramica a vetrina pesante altomedievale (Forum Ware) e medievale (Sparse Glazed). Altre invetriate tardoantiche e altomedievali, in Saguì Lucia, Paroli Lidia (a cura di), L’Esedra della Crypta Balbi nel medioevo (XI-XV secolo), Firenze 1990;
Mazzucato Otto, Tipologie e tecniche della ceramica a vetrina pesante, IX X secolo, Roma 1993;
Ricci Marco, Vendittelli Laura, Museo nazionale romano – Crypta Balbi, ceramiche medievali e moderne. I, Ceramiche medievali e del primo rinascimento (1000-1530), Roma 2010, p. 32, fig. I.1.1 e I.1.2.