Samian Ware was highly prized tableware made in Gaul (modern-day France) in the first to the third centuries CE, during the times of the Roman Empire. It included crockery such as bowls, plates and cups. The pottery normally had a red-gloss finish, and was decorated with intricate relief designs, some of which can be seen on these remnants. The designs varied greatly, ranging from flora and fauna to scenes from classical mythology.
The Samian Ware above was thought to have been found in Eynsham, but its exact provenance is unknown. This type of tableware was certainly popular with wealthier people in the Roman Empire, and has been discovered in civilian and military sites, as well as in graves (as grave goods) across Roman Britain.