Archaeological Museum of Bologna

The ribbed cup, a highly valuable vessel related to the consumption of wine, is part of a class of containers produced, in all likelihood, in Vetulonia in imitation of oriental models.

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This exemplar, which is part of the minor collection uncovered in Bologna, has a particularly splendid handle applied with a lotus flower, which makes it inimitable and implies that this vessel be the result of a re-elaborated version of the prototype. Between the late 8^th century and the early 7^th century B.C., ribbed cups became quite common both in Northern Italy and Transalpine Europe, probably owing to the intermediating role of city of Bologna.

Provenance: Bologna, Arnoaldi Necropolis
Datation: 680 - 575 B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: h. 7.5 cm; diameter 12.4 cm