One of the best-known types of Oxford Ware includes the colour-coated vessels made in the central and southern part of the Oxford Ware pottery zone. The sandy clay of this pottery was finished off with a fine, red-firing slip or slurry, in imitation of the lustrous red surface finish of the famous samian ware, which went out of production early in the 3rd century. The bowl forms, including the so-called necked bowl, were direct imitations; perhaps samian ware bowls were still kept as antiques. But no serious attempt was made to reproduce the fine samian moulded relief designs. Instead this bowl was decorated hastily with a spiked rouletting wheel, and by means of white slip applied with the tip of a paintbrush.

Like the samian models, the colour-coated bowl was probably used on the table or in the kitchen to hold fruit.