Roman Small Glass Cup (Patella)

This small cup, which belonged to a famous collection of the 19th century, was mold-blown in a transparent glass with an originally bluish tinge.

Used as tableware, these small cups served as drinking vessels but would have also been intended to contain various substances: sauces, spices, other condiments, etc. Produced mainly between the early Flavian period and the early 2nd century A.D., they exist in different versions that vary in the color, in the type of glass, or in details of the shape (shape of the lip, more or less rounded body, etc.).