Late Roman Empire, AD 300s This cage-cup is incredibly rare. Its glass contains tiny amounts of gold and silver which cause it to turn from opaque green to translucent red when light is shone through. It may have been part of a wealthy Roman's banqueting set, making its imagery of Dionysus, Greek god of wine, highly appropriate. Its green and red qualities may even have been intended to evoke white and red wine. Alternatively, it may have been used as a lamp because the gilded silver rim and foot were probably added in the late 1700s. Formerty in the collection of Lord Rothschild,