Decorative ornament - Brazil

Rare Brazilian silver guampa with a chain — 19th century. Rare 19th-century Brazilian guampa, entirely executed in silver, consisting of a truncated-conical cup, slightly flared at the upper edge, with smooth walls and discreetly faceted. The vessel is crowned by framed rings near the rim and base, giving it greater definition and formal balance. The cup is set within a supporting ring, laterally articulated by two raised lion-head appliqués. From these elements rises an elaborate upper framework, formed by symmetrical curled volutes with a cut-out design, joined at the top by a turned element and a suspension loop. The piece retains a long chain in silver, composed of interlaced links, intended for carrying or suspending the vessel. The combination of the sober-lined cup with the animated frame, the lion heads, and the long chain endows it with a character that is both functional and ceremonial. The term guampa is used in South America for vessels intended for drinking traditional beverages, particularly mate or tereré, though specimens vary significantly in shape, materials, and mode of use. This is a rather uncommon piece, notable for its heavy silver weight, the quality of the suspension structure, and the presence of zoomorphic elements, indicative of the historicist taste of 19th-century silversmithing.

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