ITEM: Legionary tile with stamp '[…]NVAC'
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 80 mm x 150 mm x 22 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, found in UK, East Anglian teacher and antiquities dealer, between 1960 - 1980

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Roman tiles with stamps are significant artifacts that offer insights into the manufacturing practices, economic organization, and administrative systems of ancient Rome. These tiles, often made of fired clay, were used in construction, particularly in building roofs and floors. The stamps imprinted on the tiles typically include the name of the manufacturer, the workshop, or the official responsible for overseeing production. These stamps served both practical and administrative purposes, helping to track the production and distribution of tiles throughout the empire.

The stamps on Roman tiles can reveal a great deal about the scale and organization of tile production. Often, they include the name of the fabrica (tile-making workshop) and the fabricae (the overseer or manager). Some stamps also include information about the date of manufacture or the specific location where the tiles were produced. This level of detail reflects the Romans' sophisticated approach to industrial management and quality control, as well as their emphasis on standardization across their vast empire. The stamps also helped in establishing accountability and ensuring that the tiles met the required standards for construction.

In addition to their practical uses, the stamps on Roman tiles also serve as historical documents that provide insights into the economic and social aspects of Roman life. They often include personal names, titles, and sometimes even references to imperial decrees or local regulations, shedding light on the individuals and institutions involved in tile production.