Arretine Ware

Arretine Ware is a fine red Roman Pottery with a glossy glazed surface, known as Terra Sigillata, which was made in Arrezo in Italy.
Samian Ware is also Terra Sigillata but made in Gaul.

The Factories were at at Arretium, modern Arrezo, Puteoli and the River Po, and initially supplied the whole of the Roman Empire.
Subsidiaries were later set up in Gaul, where there was also good clay, in order to be closer to their markets.
Each piece bears the stamp of the manufacturer and sometimes of the individual craftsman.
The highly skilled craftsman (designer) was either a Freedman or a Slave. (they usually had Greek names).
Some factories had up to 40 craftsmen or designers.
The owner had Roman Citizenship, often from parents who were Roman Slaves. Some may have been craftsmen who began as slaves, became Freedmen, and eventually bought the factory from their master.

In contrast to specialised pottery, clay lamps could be produced in moulds from cheap clay by unskilled local potters all over the Roman Empire.
They were produced by the million each year, and copied from various designs popular in Rome.

Arrezo Roman Amphitheatre