Lot 730
A Rare and Notable Mold for Red Ware Dishes. North Africa, Carthage, 4th-5th century AD. In carved and molded stucco or plaster, the piece of mold with an L-section of the border decoration that would have been employed for large rectangular serving dishes. The motifs are inspired by coin, medallion, or contorniate devices. Set within line and beaded borders: a frontal, cuirassed and draped imperial bust being wreathed by small Victories on either side; an emperor in frontal quadriga dispensing largesse (cf. Valentinian II, RIC 89); and a profile draped and diademed Constantinian-style imperial bust. The "coins" with circular beaded borders. Beneath each coin, a small draped profile bust -- some arranged to look in one direction only, some paired and regardant. Mold exceptionally preserved for these soft, heavily used items. Accompanying it is a fragment of redware plate that may have actually been fashioned from this specific mold. Length: 5"; Redware Length: 4". Lot of 2 pieces. Rare! Pairings of mold and product equally rare!
Estimated Value $700 - 900.
Coin motifs as ornamental decoration in late Roman redware ceramics is still very scarce and always sought after. This lot is an exceptional "crossover" item for the coin collector who might have though of acquiring an occasional antiquity!
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