Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | Pear shaped jug with coin hoard

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Actions Displays	Pear shaped jug with coin hoard Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number21754.722 TitlePear shaped jug with coin hoard DescriptionThis pewter jug was made in Britain about 260-268AD, during the reign of the Emperor Gallienus. It is thought to be one of the earliest pieces of Anglo-Roman pewterware. The jug is pear-shaped and decorated very simply with two engraved, circular lines. The long, narrow neck and the elegantly arched handle add to its beauty. How can we know how old this object is? When it was unearthed in Ravenshead, (Nottinghamshire) it contained some treasure of its own, which gave a vital clue. Inside, hidden for centuries, was a small hoard of 19 Roman coins stamped with the image of Gallienus. Gallienus (full name Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) ruled jointly with his father Valerian I from 253-260, then on his own until 268AD. This was a time of constant pressure for the Roman Empire, with invasions on all fronts. It was too much for one military leader to handle alone: Valerian fought on the east, while Gallienus sought to repel the Goths. Despite this almost constant upheaval, Gallienus’ reign was also a time of renaissance in Roman culture. He supported the arts, poetry and philosophy. Sadly, his reign was cut short when he was murdered by his senior officers during a revolt. Production date 0260 - 0268 Production periodRomano British Object nameJug MaterialPewter Dimensions Height: 165 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number21754.722

TitlePear shaped jug with coin hoard

DescriptionThis pewter jug was made in Britain about 260-268AD, during the reign of the Emperor Gallienus. It is thought to be one of the earliest pieces of Anglo-Roman pewterware. The jug is pear-shaped and decorated very simply with two engraved, circular lines. The long, narrow neck and the elegantly arched handle add to its beauty. How can we know how old this object is? When it was unearthed in Ravenshead, (Nottinghamshire) it contained some treasure of its own, which gave a vital clue. Inside, hidden for centuries, was a small hoard of 19 Roman coins stamped with the image of Gallienus. Gallienus (full name Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus) ruled jointly with his father Valerian I from 253-260, then on his own until 268AD. This was a time of constant pressure for the Roman Empire, with invasions on all fronts. It was too much for one military leader to handle alone: Valerian fought on the east, while Gallienus sought to repel the Goths. Despite this almost constant upheaval, Gallienus’ reign was also a time of renaissance in Roman culture. He supported the arts, poetry and philosophy. Sadly, his reign was cut short when he was murdered by his senior officers during a revolt.

Production date 0260 - 0268

Production periodRomano British

Object nameJug

MaterialPewter

Dimensions

Height: 165 mm