Kay Hartley Mortarium Archive Project
Kay F. Hartley, Ruth Leary, Yvonne Boutwood, 2022. (updated 2025) https://doi.org/10.5284/1090785. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Kay F. Hartley, Ruth Leary, Yvonne Boutwood unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Kay Hartley Mortarium Project
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4227
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1090785
- How to cite using this DOI
Die Record: VICTOR 2 2
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| Potter's Mark | VICTOR 2 |
|---|---|
| Die no | 2 |
| Reading | VICTORF/G |
| Reading (Tomlin) | VICTOR FE |
| Comments on the Readings (Tomlin) | Reading from Die 3, where F is made with a 'loop' rather than two horizontal strokes. Followed by a tall vertical stroke, taken to be E coalescing with the border. Not G. |
| Two line Stamp | TL |
| Additional Letters to the Name | FE |
| Notes | A faint, two-line stamp has been impressed along the flange just in advance of the right-facing wing of the spout. This reads VICTORF in the upper line, but the lower line is too faint for confident reading, C or GII[....]S? seems most likely. It is from the same die as a stamp from Bavai (Nord) in France (Carmelez 1981, 52, Pl. II, no. 25 (Inventory no. 5750/739)). M. Carmelez mentions that there is a lower unreadable line, but does not indicate it in his illustration. Rubbings of the stamp, however, although they do not permit a reading, are sufficient to show that it is from the same die as this London example. Two other stamped mortaria have been recorded which are likely to be from the same die, although only close examination and rubbings will confirm it. One, recorded as in the Douai Museum (C.I.L. XIII, 3, 10006, 109a, provenance unknown), had a stamp which was read as VICTO?/CIINTI?, N reversed; the other with both stamps, was found at Assche in Belgium (ibid., 109b), the reading given being VICTORF/CIIVTIIIS. VICTORF/GENTILIS seems to be the most promising interpretation from the evidence available, but if these stamps have survived, they will probably provide a full and reliable reading. The stamps probably include the names of two potters, which is uncommon. (Readings of stamp at Douai Mus and one found at Assche leave little doubt of the reading - VICTORF/GIINTILIS = GENTILIS). Many of Victor's mortaria, stamped with other dies, have been found in the Departement de Nord and Belgium which is only ten miles from Bavai. The large numbers of his products found at Bavai, where there were potteries making mortaria, provide good evidence that he had a workshop there. Stamps reading GENTILIS alone are uncommon but are found in the same areas. There is no close dating evidence for these potters, but they are considered to be second-century in date. Judging from the profile of this and other examples I would expect them to belong to the first half of the century rather than later; if there were any question of beginning work in the first century, it would be in the last ten years or so |
| Overall Date Range of Potter | L1?-first half of 2nd century |
| Region | Continentals |
| Industry | Bavai (Nord) |
| Wares or Comments on Fabrics | NOG WH4 |
| Border |
Top: Frame Bottom: NK Left: NK Right: NK |
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