»... because one has to let the originals speak« (F. Fremersdorf 1956) - the diatreta from Treves and the question of the production of Roman cage cups

Abstract

The paper describes the results of a visual examination of glass cage cups found in Trier with regard to the discussion on their manufacturing technique in Roman times. Recent contributions concerning this matter together with the new arrangement of the permanent exhibition in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier provided the chance for a detailed observation of the fragments of five partly multicoloured cage cups and the almost perfectly preserved cage cup from Niederemmel, all preserved in the museum in Trier. Without the intention to achieve a final conclusion favouring one theory on the manufacturing technique or the other, considerations and questions are given on features and manufacturing details observed. The presented facts are supposed to contribute to the ongoing discussion. After a brief summary of the controversial theories of the manufacturing technique of the Roman originals presented in the literature, the six cage cups preserved in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier are described and illustrated in detail.