L’atelier de Vicus Gemellae : motifs, styles décoratifs et guillochis

Abstract

It is currently accepted that Sidi Aïch is by far the most important of the so-called “continental” ceramic workshops both in terms of production and its diversification and in terms of the area of dissemination of its products. Our investigations on this workshop, which began three decades ago, have resulted, among other things, in the construction of typologies and catalogs specific to the different productions, in particular tableware, culinary ceramics, lamps and decoration (patterns, decorative and guilloche styles). The latter, subject of the present communication, and although it imitates that of “classic” productions, stands out by a certain number of distinctive features such as the size of the patterns and their arrangement and the originality of some decorative styles. These aesthetic and technical characteristics make the products of this workshop easily recognizable. Chronologically, this decoration spread during the peak phase of production in the 4th and 5th centuries.

Keywords

• Sidi Aïch’s workshop
• decoration
• stamping
• patterns
• decorative styles
• guilloche