An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s23: 11.23 Red Polished Ware
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s23
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11.23 Red Polished Ware
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Though fragments of the Red Polished Ware are reported from a number of sites in India, the ware came to be recognized as one of the most important ceramic industries of the early historical period and labelled as such after the excavation at AMRELI. The vessels are made of well-levigated clay, treated with a thick red slip, which is polished. Fired at a high temperature they are sturdy and produce a metallic sound. The colour varies from dark red to pink.
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The nuclear region of the ware is Kathiawad with the largest number of types coming from AMRELI. The ware with a number of shapes, such as the ‘sprinkler’ and *surāhī*, is widely distributed in India. Amongst other common types are the jar with grooved rim, flaring neck, bulbous body and ring-footed base, the bowl with an incurved beaded rim and carinated shoulder and the bowl with convex sides and thick incurved rim. The ware has been dated to between the 1st century B.C. and the 5th century A.D.
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The high degree of finish led archaeologists to consider it as an imported ware or at least an imitation of the Roman Samian Ware [Subbarao, 1958, pp. 46-7, 137], but the nuclear region of the ware, its quantity, the large number of its types with fundamental differences and a probable pre-Christian beginning tends to show its indigenous origin.
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Subbarao, B., 1958, *Personality of India*, pp. 46-7, 137. For sites see respective entries in vol. II—K.K. SRIVASTAVA