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The Chaourse treasure: a hoard of Roman silver from the 2nd century AD

Marija Georgievska

The Chaourse village is located in northern France near Montcornet in the Aisne department. It is best-known as the place where the Chaourse Treasure was found in 1883.

It is a hoard of Roman silver which dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century AD, and today it is on display in the British Museum. According to Wikipedia, the treasure is one of the most distinguished table services which have survived from antiquity. On some of the silver plates, two names are inscribed, Cavarianus and Genialis, presumably the owners of the service.

The Chaourse treasure on display at the British Museum
The Chaourse treasure on display at the British Museum

 

According to Wikipedia, is one of the most distinguished table services which have survived from antiquity
According to Wikipedia, is one of the most distinguished table services which have survived from antiquity

The hoard was found in a field wrapped in cloth in 1883. It was purchased by the British Museum six years after it was found. Along with the treasure, silver coins were found. These were used during the reign of the Gallic emperor Postumus and later, during the reign of Gallenius, and they were buried with the rest of the hoard.

Few of the items are from the 2nd century, but most of them are from the 3rd century AD. The Chaourse hoard contains 39 items and only a mirror, and five small vessels are not silver. The mirror is half bronze, half silver and decorated with silver leaf. It is part of the items that form the toilet service.

It was excavated in 1883 in a field in the village Chaourse
It was excavated in 1883 in a field in the village Chaourse

 

 

It was purchased six years after it was found, by the British Museum 
It was purchased six years after it was found, by the British Museum 

 

On the right are the figurine of the deity Fortuna and the plate with the Roman god Mercury and in the middle is the pepper-pot in shape of an African boy or slave
On the right are the figurine of the deity Fortuna and the plate with the Roman god Mercury and in the middle is the pepper-pot in shape of an African boy or slave

 

The silver plate with the swastika at the center
The silver plate with the swastika at the center

One of the four large serving dishes has the swastika in the center, and it is inlaid with niello. Another dish has a figure of the god Mercury in the center.

The rest of the treasure includes many partially gilded jugs, drinking cups made of silver, two buckets or situlas, various bowls decorated with floral and animal patterns, a figurine of the goddess Fortuna and a small pepper-pot in the shape of a sleeping African boy in squatting position. It is suggested that it is a pepper-pot of African slave because his chest is chained. The holes for the pepper are on his head.

Various bowls and small plates including the Genialis plate with a rosette at the center on the right
Various bowls and small plates including the Genialis plate with a rosette at the center on the right

Two bowls of the treasure are almost identical in their shape and decoration which may have been made in the same workshop.

Read another story from us: Portchester Castle: The turbulent history behind the medieval castle built within a Roman fort

Genialis and Cavarianus probably buried the plates inscribed with their name for safe-keeping. One of the small silver plates which have a rosette in the center is inscribed with the name Genialis.The treasure can be seen in the Greek & Roman Antiquities department at the museum.

Marija Georgievska

Marija Georgievska is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News