Figurative mate cup, bombilla

NameMate cup, bombilla

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Date19th century

Place madeBuenos Aires, Argentina, South America

MediumMetal (Silver alloy, including copper, brass and other metals)

DimensionsCup: 8 11/16 x 3 9/16 x 3 9/16 in. (22 x 9 x 9 cm)
Bombilla: 10 5/16 x 13/16 x 3 1/8 in. (26.2 x 2 x 8 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, International Folk Art Foundation Collection, FA.2010.24.10ab

Object numberFA.2010.24.10ab

DescriptionSilver colored mate cup (a) in the form of a round vessel with floral designs around the shoulder, and leaves around the base and neck, which is perched atop the head of a male youth, who steadies it with one hand. He steps forward and has his other arm outstretched at his side. The conical, flared base upon which he stands also has a row of flowers around the bottom, and leaves just below the "pedestal" upon which he stands. Bombilla (b) has a teardrop shaped strainer pierced in concentric circles on a silver tube with a brass bite, brass decoration just above the strainer, and a spiraling design in copper and silver florals around the top half of the tube.