A study of the work of Dr. Felix Oswald on the Oswald-plicque collection of samian pottery, now at Durham University

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to re-assess the work of Dr.Felix Oswald on the Oswald-Plicque Collection of samian pottery. The Oswald-Plicque collection was the personal samian collection of Dr.Oswald and was acquired by Professor Eric Birley for Durham University in 1950. It is now at the Museum of Archaeology, Durham. The first part of the thesis describes the history of the Collection. Its importance to samian specialists is discussed and a brief account is given of its organisation before and after arriving in Durham. The second part of the thesis analyses the Central Gaulish ware in the Collection. Dr.Oswald wrote brief notes and names on the back of each sherd indicating the potter to whom he attributed the piece. Each potter is discussed alphabetically, and an opinion is expressed as to the accuracy of Dr.Oswald's classifications. The third section of the thesis discusses the South Gaulish ware. Dr.Oswald wrote more extensive notes on the South Gaulish sherds and these have been recorded in full. The sherds have been divided on the basis of date rather than potter, and the accuracy of the dates given for each sherd is assessed. Finally the work of Dr.Oswald on the Collection is placed in the context of his times. It is concluded that many of the sherds are incorrectly attributed and that Dr.Oswald's attempt to name a style for each sherd is over ambitious and influenced by 19th century thinking. Dr.Oswald used information on figure types derived from the Collection in one of his most important works, his "Index of Figure Types on Terra Sigillata" (1936-7), and it is suggested that extreme caution should be taken when using references from this Index to unsigned work from the Oswald-Plicque Collection.