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This vintage 1950s–1960s demitasse cup and saucer is entirely inlaid with abalone shell mosaic over Alpaca Silver, marked "Mexico Alpaca" on the base. Shimmering blues, purples, pinks, greens, and silver — a rare work of artisan craft.
Materials: Abalone shell mosaic on Alpaca Silver (copper-nickel-zinc alloy)
Dimensions: Saucer 3.25" diameter; cup 1.5" tall, 2.25" diameter
Origin: Mexico
Era: 1950s–1960s (estimated)
Condition: Vintage, used, excellent condition, no issues noted. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.
It will appeal to collectors of Mexican silverwork and folk art, anyone drawn to iridescent, one-of-a-kind display pieces, and gift-givers looking for something genuinely unusual for a milestone occasion.
Abalone shell has been prized across cultures for centuries for its shifting, opalescent color, and here it's cut and set piece by piece into a full mosaic covering both cup and saucer — a labor-intensive technique associated with mid-century Mexican silversmithing, particularly workshops in Taxco and central Mexico. The base metal, Alpaca Silver — also called nickel silver or German silver — is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy prized for looking like sterling despite containing no actual silver.
For more one-of-a-kind statement pieces, take a look at our Dagounis 24K gold demitasse from Greece.
