Cocunut and silver jicaras (Cups)

The jicaras were bowls without handles of Mesoamerican origin, adopted after the Spanish conquest also in Europe for sipping coffee and chocolate. These jicaras are probably the result of two production phases: the traditional one of emptying, smoothing and lacquering the coconut and the one - typical of the colonial period - of adding feet and handles in worked silver. The latter, whether produced in the old continent or in Mexico, reflect European taste. Adding metal mounts to recipients without handles or pedestals was a tradition in use since the Middle Ages, when it was applied to Chinese vases. Even the floral motif of the base is of western influence: this type of decoration was in fact absent in local craftsmanship. Jicaras used to drink "atolli" (a miso of corn and water) and "kakaw" (cocoa drinks), were traditionally made from the woody fruits - similar to gourds - of the Crescentia cujete tree. The use of coconut in this specimen and others from the 17th century is a consequence of the importation of the coconut plant from the Philippines by the Spanish. Although other coconut species were present in Mesoamerica (Panama) from the time of the Austronesian migrations, the globular species was unknown before the colonial period.