Antique Alpaca Silver and 18K Gold Yerba Mate Tea Cup with Bombilla

Item Details

A gorgeous mate (South American tea) cup with an ornate bombilla straw. This footed egg shaped cup features hammered metal decorative plates around the top and bottom, replete with natural designs and several brass toned diamond shapes which appear to be the center of a flower, with the marbled brown surface of the cured calabash gourd used as the foundation for the cup showing through in the middle. The three legs feature daisies as feet, and scrolled elements on the legs. The bombilla features a round, hinged head perforated with many holes, attached to the metal shaft which feature hammered vine designs towards the bottom, with bands of 18K gold including the mouthpiece, which is marked ‘18K’. The mate cup is marked ‘Alpaca’ to the bottom.

Mate is served with a metal straw (bombilla) from a shared hollow calabash gourd. Yerba mate leaves are dried, chopped, and ground into a powdery mixture called yerba. The bombilla acts as both a straw and a sieve.

Dimensions

Item #

16LOU139-085