Early medieval ceramics
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Delivery time: 1 - 2 working days* (DE - int. shipments may differ)
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Delivery time: 1 - 2 working days* (DE - int. shipments may differ)
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Delivery time: 1 - 2 working days* (DE - int. shipments may differ)
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Early medieval pottery is among the most fascinating material artefacts from the period between the 6th and 10th centuries – ranging from the Frankish spouted jug and the characteristic bent-wall beakers to the widely traded Tatingen ware. Whether you’re setting up an authentic camp, completing your re-enactment setup, or simply want to get your hands on a piece of history: these replicas have been crafted according to historical models and reflect the pottery traditions of their time.
What is early medieval pottery? Characteristics and historical background
The Early Middle Ages as a ceramic epoch roughly spans the 6th to 10th centuries – that is, the transition from Late Antiquity to the Carolingian period. During this period, the pottery tradition underwent fundamental changes: the highly developed Roman production centres fell into decline, and were initially replaced by simpler, regionally influenced workshops. The vessels were mostly hand-formed or built up on a slowly rotating potter’s wheel; the clay tones range from dark grey through brown to reddish shard colours, whilst glazes – if present at all – are rare and underdeveloped.
Utility ceramics were not decoration for decoration’s sake. They served for cooking over an open fire, storing food, scooping and drinking – in short: the harsh realities of everyday life. Anyone holding an early medieval replica in their hands today feels exactly that: the weight of the clay, the uneven surface, the imprint of fingertips or the building technique.
The question often arises as to what the difference is between ‘pottery’ and ‘ceramics’. Pottery refers to the craft technique – shaping clay on the potter’s wheel or by hand-building. Ceramics is the umbrella term for all fired clay goods, from simple earthenware to stoneware. In the early medieval context, both terms are closely linked, because almost everything was produced on a small scale and by regional craftsmen.
Early Medieval Ceramics in Reenactment and LARP: Practical Tips for Your Camp
For a Frankish or Carolingian camp, spouted jugs, spherical pots and bent-wall cups are recommended – all attested regionally by finds. A Viking Age setting from Scandinavia (9th–10th centuries) is, archaeologically speaking, relatively poor in ceramics: here, the Birka cup made of stoneware or Tatingen ware, as imported trade goods, fits very well. Saxon and Alemannic depictions from the 6th–8th centuries feature simple fluted-wall cups and spherical pots, as evidenced in numerous burial grounds.
Ceramics work best in a camp setting when combined with suitable accessories. Wooden plates and bowls were at least as common as earthenware – a combination of both materials creates the most authentic camp atmosphere. Complement your setup with medieval cutlery made of iron or horn, as well as drinking horns for the Nordic elements. Ceramic canteens or birch bark containers make a useful addition to an early medieval camp.
Unglazed or only partially decorated ceramics absorb moisture – this is historically accurate, but requires some care. The dishwasher is a no-go: the temperature fluctuations and aggressive detergents can damage the pottery. Allow to dry thoroughly after use; store in a dry, frost-free place during prolonged storage. Stoneware replicas (such as the Birka cup) are sintered due to their higher firing temperature and are therefore waterproof and food-safe – significantly easier to care for than simple earthenware.
At a LARP event, ceramics are generally at risk of breaking – you should take this into account when choosing your equipment. Ceramic vessels are well suited for the camp and the table at feasts; during active play or in battlefield situations, you’re better off opting for robust alternatives made of wood or horn. Those seeking the look of ceramics purely for decorative purposes will find a more affordable alternative in our Medieval Market and LARP Ceramics range, which makes no claim to historical accuracy.
Viking ceramics: What is historically documented?
Did Vikings use ceramics? The short answer: yes – but wood and horn dominated everyday life in Scandinavia far more than clay. Viking-era settlements yield significantly fewer ceramic finds compared to Frankish sites. This is mainly because wood was abundant in the north and was the preferred material for bowls, cups and containers. Pottery was often an imported commodity in Viking-era Scandinavia – and that is precisely what makes it so interesting for re-enactors.
The best-known archaeological example is the Birka cup: the trading centre of Birka (in present-day Sweden) was one of the most important hubs of Baltic Sea trade in the 9th and 10th centuries. Stoneware cups were found here that had been imported from the Rhineland – direct evidence of the extensive trade networks of the era. Our Viking Birka cup is modelled on these finds: made of stoneware, sintered, watertight and food-safe.
Tatingen ware is also documented as an import to Scandinavia: this distinctive pottery, with its tin foil appliqués, was produced in the Frankish Empire and traded as far as Haithabu and Birka. Finds of this ware in Viking Age contexts prove that pottery certainly existed in Nordic households – but precisely as a traded good, not as a local product.
A realistic guide for re-enactors: The romanticised ‘Viking look’ featuring huge runic jugs and elaborately painted clay plates has little in common with the archaeological evidence. Anyone seeking to recreate a Viking Age scene will be much closer to historical reality with the Birka cup, the Tatingen jug and accompanying hornware.
Early medieval pottery traditions: from Badorf to Tatingen
Rhenish pottery centres: Badorf and Mayen
The potteries around Mayen in the Eastern Eifel and the centre at Badorf near Cologne were among the most productive ceramic workshops in early medieval Europe. Their wares – including the characteristic bulbous jugs – were traded far and wide via the waterways of the Rhine and Meuse. The Mayen pottery tradition dates back to Roman times and experienced a new heyday in the 8th–9th centuries.
Tating ware: long-distance trade pottery from the North Sea region
Named after the Frisian village of Tating, this ware represents one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of early medieval pottery. Its distinguishing feature is the tin foil appliqués applied to dark clay. Finds range from Haithabu to Dorestad and as far as Birka – evidence of the extensive trade links between the Frankish Empire and Scandinavia in the 8th to 10th centuries.
Pingsdorf ware: transition to the High Middle Ages
Pingsdorf pottery, also produced in the Rhineland, marks the transition to the High Middle Ages. It is characterised by reddish-brown painting on light-coloured shards – one of the first systematically decorated ceramics of medieval north-western Europe. Pingsdorf ware was produced between the late 9th and 13th centuries and has been found at countless sites from England to Poland.
Utility pottery vs. tableware of the upper classes
What defines utilitarian pottery is its functional nature: no display of status, no ostentation of wealth – but robust, everyday vessels for cooking, storage and drinking. The tableware of the Carolingian upper classes, by contrast, tended to be made of metal (bronze, silver) or expensive imported glass. For the early medieval camp in reenactment, this means: pottery is the material of the common people – and thus all the more historically authentic.
An overview of the most important early medieval pottery types
Fold-side cup
The bent-wall cup is one of the most characteristic vessel types of the early Middle Ages in Central Europe. The striking bend in the lower third of the body is a defining feature and is attested by numerous finds in German burial grounds and settlements. Volume approx. 0.2 litres – ideal as a drinking vessel for a Frankish or Saxon encampment.
Spherical pot & bulbous jug
The characteristic rounded shape with a narrow neck makes the spherical pot and the spherical jug the best-known examples of early medieval Rhineland pottery. Suitable for cooking over an open fire and storing liquids. The Badorf spherical jug (0.7 l) is named after the pottery centre of the same name near Cologne.
Tatingen jug
Long-distance trade pottery par excellence: the Tatinger jug, with its characteristic tin appliqués, was traded from the Frankish Empire as far as Scandinavia. Finds at Haithabu and Birka attest to extensive trade networks. As hand-built coil-built pottery, it reflects a historically documented technique – and fits equally well into a Frankish or a Viking Age hoard.
Frankish spouted jug & canteen
The Frankish spouted jug (0.6 l) was an all-rounder of early medieval daily life – used for pouring water, mead or other liquids. The early medieval canteen (replica based on a French model, 10th century) is equally suitable for depictions of travel and life in a military camp. Both pieces are excellent additions to canteens or pilgrim flasks made from other materials.
Aquamanile
The aquamanile is a figurative water vessel – typically in the shape of an animal (lion, horse, rooster) – which was used for washing hands at the table or in ceremonial contexts. The Pingsdorf aquamanile (10th–12th century) is the most elaborate and expensive piece in the range and is suitable for elaborate camp set-ups or as a collector’s item.
Authentic vs. decorative: What to look out for when buying
- Made in Germany, based on archaeological findings
- Built-up ceramic or wheel-thrown depending on the historical model
- Stoneware pieces (e.g. Birka beaker) are food-safe and waterproof
- Unglazed or partially decorated – historically accurate finish
- Price range: Folding-wall cups from approx. €12, aquamaniles up to approx. €54
- Suitable for re-enactment, authentic camps, museum quality
- Lower price points, more robust mass production
- Often featuring modern motifs (runes, fantasy designs)
- Not always food-safe – check the product description
- Well suited for decoration, set design, cost-effective camp equipment
- Less suitable for historically accurate depictions
- Found in the Medieval Market and LARP Ceramics category
Tip for setting up a camp: A harmonious early medieval camp scene is created by combining different types of vessels. A spherical pot over the fire, a spouted jug on the table, a bent-wall cup in your hand – together with wooden plates, cutlery and a drinking horn made of horn, this creates an authentic impression. Anyone browsing the Medieval Camp Supplies range will find numerous suitable additions – from animal skins and baskets to wrought-iron cooking accessories.
Early medieval pottery is far more than just a decorative accessory for your reenactment camp – it is a direct testament to the everyday culture of the Franks, Vikings and Carolingians. Take a look at the replicas in our range and choose the pieces that suit your period and your portrayal.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but pottery played a secondary role in Viking-era Scandinavia compared to wooden and horn tableware. Pottery usually reached the North as imported goods – such as Tatingen ware from the Frankish Empire or Rhenish stoneware beakers like the Birka beaker, which has been archaeologically confirmed at the trading centre of Birka (Sweden). For a historically accurate depiction of the Vikings, these very imported pieces are recommended.
Pottery refers to the craft technique of shaping clay – either on a potter’s wheel, by building up with clay coils, or by hand-forming. Ceramics is the umbrella term for all fired clayware, regardless of the manufacturing technique. Early medieval ceramics were often produced using the coil-building technique on a slow-turning wheel – this is historically accurate and has been implemented accordingly in our replicas.
That depends on the specific piece. Stoneware replicas such as the Birka cup are sintered at high firing temperatures, making them watertight and food-safe – and therefore suitable for mead, water or other beverages. Unglazed earthenware, on the other hand, is more porous and is intended primarily for decorative purposes or for use with dry foods. Food safety is specified in each product description.
For Frankish and Carolingian depictions from the 6th to 9th centuries, the most suitable pieces are the bent-wall cup, the spherical pot, the globular jug (Badorf ware) and the Frankish spouted jug – all of which are attested by archaeological finds in Central Europe. For the Carolingian period (8th–10th centuries), the Tatingen jug is also a suitable option, as it was produced in the Frankish Empire and traded widely.
Unglazed pottery should not be washed in the dishwasher, as temperature fluctuations and harsh detergents can damage the material. It is best to wash it with warm water and a soft brush and then allow it to dry completely. If storing for a longer period, keep it in a dry, frost-free place. Stoneware pieces are significantly more durable due to their sintering and are easier to clean.