Roemer met het opschrift: A Demain Les Affaires before 1649

This delicate Roemer glass, of unknown origin, is adorned with the inscription "A Demain Les Affaires"—'To Tomorrow, Business.' Here we see a vessel meant for convivial gatherings, where the cares of the day are momentarily set aside, under the influence of wine. The inscription is a symbolic deferral, a ritualistic promise to postpone worldly concerns, much like the ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia, where social norms were inverted. The clustered prunts on the stem, like swollen grapes, evoke Bacchic revelry and stand as reminders of the intoxicating pleasure that has moved through art history, from classical Dionysian frescoes to Renaissance bacchanals. Note how the inscription, etched with fleeting elegance, echoes the sentiment of carpe diem. This is not a new concept; it resurfaces in the memento mori tradition, reminding us of the transience of life.