Hans Dragendorff

Who was Hans Dragendorff?

Hans Dragendorff was a Baltic German scholar who introduced the first classification system for the type of Ancient Roman pottery known as Samian ware or Terra Sigillata, in 1896, using type numbers. His scheme was based on the varying forms the vessels took and although it has since been augmented and refined by others, it is still common to refer to 'Dragendorff type 37' bowls for example.

Dragendorff studied in Dorpat, Berlin and Bonn with Georg Loeschcke and received his doctorate in 1894 for his work on Terra Sigillata. He held an extraordinary chair in Basel till 1902, when he became director of the newly founded "Römisch-Germanische Kommission" of the 'Deutsches Archäologisches Institut', a post which he held till 1911. 1911-1922 he was secretary general of the DAI. In 1922, he got a chair in Freiburg, a post he held till 1933.

Dragendorff was member of the DAI, member of the directorial board of the DAI from 1931-1941, member of the RGK 1902-1941, member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Society of Antiquities of London.