**Originally Listed At $350**

South America, Argentina, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A beautiful collection of silver mate drinking implements, including a bombilla straw and a cup rim and base holder. The straw known as bombilla or bomba, is sterling silver with areas of gold gilt around the segment rings and mouthpiece which is stamped "ENCH LAM 18K," and has strainer built into the tip to filter out the mate tea particles. The strainer tip is stamped with the maker mark "G48 925 IND. ARGENTINA" for Industria Alpaca Argentina. The stand and rim have piercings for riveting to a gourd cup to embellish and stabilize the vessel. This base has three ring feet, and the lid has a tapered rim, both made from hammered sheets of silver with scrolling repousse and stippled foliate patterns. Size (straw): 7.75" L x 0.8" W (19.7 cm x 2 cm); silver quality: 92.5%; gilt: 18K; (base of cup): 2.5" W x 1.125" H (6.4 cm x 2.9 cm); silver quality: 92.5%; (lid): 2.125" W x 1.25" H (5.4 cm x 3.2 cm); silver quality: 36%; weight of all 75.8 grams

Mate is a traditional South American infused drink prepared from steeping dried leaves of yerba mate traditionally drunk from a gourd cup, also known as a mate.

Provenance: private Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#165414

Mineral deposits and patina on the base and rim. Indentations, abrasions, and adhesive encrustations on interior of rim piece from attaching the gourd cup. Straw is intact and very good. Some darker toning and cleanable patina on straw. Straw has not been tested for functionality but is intact.