Decorative ornament - Brazil

Rare Brazilian guampa in silver with chain — 19th century. Rare Brazilian guampa of the 19th century, entirely crafted in silver, comprising a cup of truncated-conical shape, slightly flared at the upper edge, with smooth walls and discreetly faceted. The vessel is finished with rims framed near the mouth and base, giving it greater definition and formal balance. The cup is inserted into a supporting ring, laterally articulated by two applications raised in the shape of a lion’s head. From these elements emerges an elaborate upper frame, formed by symmetrical scrolls of cut-out design, gathered at the top by a turned element and suspension ring. The piece retains a long silver chain, formed by interlaced links, intended for carrying or suspending the vessel. The combination of the cup’s sober lines with the movably mounted frame, the lion heads and the long chain gives it a character that is simultaneously functional and ceremonial. The designation guampa is used in South America for vessels intended for the consumption of traditional beverages, particularly mate or tereré, although specimens vary significantly in form, materials and mode of use. This is a somewhat uncommon piece, distinguished by its high silver weight, the quality of the suspension structure, and the presence of zoomorphic elements, representative of the historicist taste of nineteenth-century goldsmithing.

Origin: Brazil
Era: 19th century
Material: silver
Decoration: lion heads, scrolls and cut-out elements
Approximate weight: 554.4 grams
Cup height: 12.8 cm
Total height with chain extended: 86.5 cm