Early 2nd century AD. A large Samian ware beaker with moulded relief decoration in the Barbotine technique with a globular body resting upon a pedestal foot and having an everted rim; the decoration depicting a hunting scene of a sinuous hound in pursuit of a long-eared hare, both surrounded with sinuous tendrils and foliage; from Gaul. Cf. British Museum accession nos.1875,0605.5 and 1881,0626.9, for similar examples, especially the latter, both of these found in the UK; for a nearly identical decorated beaker in the collections of the British Museum, see Walters, H.B., Catalogue of the Roman pottery in the departments of Antiquities, British Museum, London, 1908, pl.XV, M 115; see also nn.2397-2415 and Bulmer, M., An introduction to Roman Samian Ware, Denbigh, 1980.510 grams, 16.5cm (6 1/2"). From an important Austrian collection; formerly with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, auction 252, lot 224; in a private collection, Wein, Austria; formerly with Galerie Sch?nbrunn, Wien, Austria, in 1986; accompanied by a positive thermoluminescence report no.03B101115 issued by Laboratory Kotalla; copies of the Gorny & Mosch catalogue pages; and by an archaeological report by Dr. Raffaele D’Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10421-170993. This cup with its shape and decoration, evidently belongs to one of the main forms of the Gallic terra-sigillata workshops, produced using slip or barbotine decoration. Following its use on Hellenistic and Arretine wares, decoration en barbotine was popular on Samian vessels from the Neronian period onwards. This process is a sort of cross between painting and relief, and was achieved by the laying-on of a semi-liquid clay slip with a brush, a spatula or a small tube. According to Bulmer the instrument mainly used was a funnel, or a special type of spouted pot. The pattern was probably first lightly indicated, and the viscous paste was then laid on in thick lines or masses, producing a sort of low relief. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Fine condition; professionally restored. Rare.