Jícara
Audiencia de Charcas (Bolivia), ca. 1770-1780
Carved calabash and moulded repoussé gold
Carved calabash and moulded repoussé gold
Height 13.8 cm; maximum width 5.7 cm; weight 203g
This jícara, crafted from morro calabash shell, exemplifies high-quality design and rarity. The term "jícara," from the Nahuatl word xicalli meaning "cup," refers to a traditional vessel used for drinking chocolate, often embellished with silver bases.
This particular jícara features a gourd body with intricate floral decorations, partially obscured by gold clasps and bands. It sits on a finely-chiselled gold stand with tiered base and decorative bands.
Similar pieces include 18th-century jícaras from Upper Peru, which blend Gallic Rococo and Neoclassical styles, and a 19th-century Bolivian jícara with Neoclassical and Romantic influences. A closely related mate, also in coconut and gold, shows similar design elements and was featured in "The Colonial Andes" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum.