Oinochoe (jug) with appliqués,

220–250 CE

Red clay pottery made during the Roman period is associated with workshop production in the Roman provinces of North Africa, which became the center of fine pottery production in the Mediterranean from the second to the seventh century CE. The body of this jug has been covered in red slip and fired, producing a shiny and uniform red-orange surface, a hue it shares with other vessels produced in the region at the time. Figural and ornamental decorations have been applied in relief: one side depicts a central figure holding up his arm with a lion below, while the other side shows a collection of animals, including a pair of fighting leopards, a lion, and a bear. Each scene is framed by a palmette appliqué and vertical fronds, while three bunches of grapes are represented in added clay below the rim.