Coco chocolatier; Viceroyalty work; 18th century.

Coco chocolatero; Viceroyalty work; XVIII century.
Coconut shell and silver mounts.
Measurements: 8 x 13 x 9 cm.
The coco chocolatero is a sumptuary object that was used to serve small quantities of beverages, including chocolate. It was used during the XVII to XIX centuries and was made from the bark of the coco, hence its name. Its elaboration during the Viceroyalty period was made possible thanks to the fact that coconut palms, natural to the Pacific islands, were acclimatized to other places. The hard barks of their fruits were cleaned and carved until polished, then sgraffitoed with a burin or gouge, decorated with profuse geometric plant forms and mounted on elaborate burnished silver work. The process was carried out in two phases: first the coco was carved and decorated with applications of metals, shell and semiprecious stones, then it was set in silver, forming a pedestal. These objects were manufactured in America and different parts of Europe, including Germany, Spain and France.