A small Roman cobalt blue glass acetabulum cup Circa 1st Century A.D. 5.3cm diam. Footnotes: Provenance: Anonymous sale; Millon & Associés, Paris, 22 June 2012, lot 885. Nico F. Bijnsdorp Collection, the Netherlands, acquired at the above sale. The Nico F. Bijnsdorp Collection of Ancient Glass, Part II; Bonhams, London, 6th July 2023, lot 121. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale. These vessels, known as acetabulum, were named from the Latin word acetum, meaning vinegar, and abulum, the suffix denoting a small vessel. As today, the Romans believed vinegar was good for the constitution and such cups served as tableware to serve vinegar sauces. They were also used as a measure. They are closely related to the cast monochrome and mosaic patella cups. For examples of the type see S.B. Matheson, Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale, 1980, p.36-7, no. 106 and D. Whitehouse, Roman Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass, vol.1, Corning, 1997, 84-88, particularly nos. 117-8. Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing