Histria antiqua, Vol. 19 No. 19, 2010.
Original scientific paper
APPLIED ARTS IN ROME
Marija BUZOV
orcid.org/0000-0002-0397-2740
; Institute of Archaeology Ulica grada Vukovara 68 HR - 10000 Zagreb
Abstract
The cohesion of the political system allowed unimpeded freedom of movement to enterprising merchants from
Asia, Hispania and Gaul, facilitated the widest initiative to contractors from all the provinces, and provided
steady supply of all necessary raw materials to the craftsmen from the City - Rome. The ancient industry had
an entirely different character, both in the way it developed as well as in the production system: it was an empire of
people-often slaves, though-in which every individual had a chance to express their personal talents, and every product
bore the mark of the artisan who made it. It is therefore all but impossible in the world of antiquity to set a precise
border between industry and craft, because industry, even when diversified and technically organized with a division
of labour of some kind, still consists of specialized craftsmen. When we discuss applied arts, we certainly have to point
out the role of the craftsmen, regardless of whether they had signed their product or it had been left without a mark, the
seal of a workshop or the master craftsman.
Keywords
applied arts; Rome; craftsman; jewellery; luxury goods; Roman Empire; Roman provinces
Hrčak ID:
85449
URI
Publication date:
1.11.2010.
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