Title
Chocolate cup
Year/Period
17th to 18th century
Region
Mexico
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 14.0 x 7.5 cm,
Object size: 14.0 x 13.0 x 9.0 cm
Object size: 14.0 x 13.0 x 9.0 cm
Accession No.
2022-00864
Collection of
This is a chocolate cup, a luxury item associated with the European aristocratic culture of drinking hot chocolate. The Spanish were introduced to chocolate (unknown in Europe at the time) by the peoples they encountered when they colonised lands they called New Spain (today's Mexico and surrounding areas). The Spanish love of chocolate made these cups highly desirable, in New Spain and as exports to Europe, where chocolate drinking culture quickly spread. Later they were produced in Europe as well.Made from the husk of a coconut, the cup is fitted with a silver base and handles to add elegance and richness (some believed coconut shell would act as a natural defence against poison).
