ars (african red slip) ware was the most widely distributed representative of the sigillata tradition in the late-roman period. (occasional imports of ars have been found as far afield as britain in the 5th–6th centuries. it was manufactured in the province of (approximately modern tunisia), and similar forms and fabrics were made for more local distribution in egypt, which had its own very active and diverse ceramic traditions in the roman period. a wide range of bowls, dishes and flagons were made in ars, but the technique of making entire relief-decorated vessels in moulds was discontinued. instead, appliqué motifs were frequently used where decoration in relief was required, separately made and applied to the vessel before drying and firing. stamped motifs were also a favoured form of decoration, and in the later centuries, christian subjects and symbols often appear.