Impressed decoration

Pottery decoration produced by pressing something into the surface of the clay when still soft. Stamped decoration is a special form of this, in which a stick or bone is previously carved to give the impression its design. Intermediate in form are the impressions of natural objects like bird bones or serrated sea shells. A Roman impressed ring was found at Putlowes, Fleet Marston and medieval impressed tile at Bec House, Saunderton. When used to describe decoration on metalwork the impression has most probably been made by casting the metal in a mould.