A fine façon de Venise 'Verres Coquilles' goblet, late 16th century. Photo courtesy Bonhams.

Probably Southern Netherlands, the very tall tulip-shaped bowl with a tapering hollow base formed into six graduated knops or steps, on a cushioned knop between collars and a spreading foot folded at the rim, entirely decorated in vetro a retorti with a striped pattern of flattened gauzes and ribbons, 29.7cm high. Sold for £16,250 (€19,339)

Provenance: Krug Collection.

A similar goblet is in the James A de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor. In their catalogue of the Rothschild Collection (1977), pp.104-107 Robert Charleston and Michael Archer discuss many related examples and the question of whether all originally had covers. They reproduce a drawing of a vessel of related shape, without a cover, from the mid-16th century catalogue of the Colinet glassworks at Beauwelz, there described as 'Verres Coquilles'. 

Bonhams. FINE EUROPEAN CERAMICS, GLASS AND PAPERWEIGHTS. London, New Bond Street - www.bonhams.com