SPANISH SILVER CHOCOLATE POTS: PRESERVED ITEMS AND AN UNPUBLISHED DESIGN BY DOMINGO DE URQUIZA

PILAR NIEVA SOTO

Chocolate pots were domestic items found relatively frequently in Spain from the 17th century onwards. They wer made of various materials, such as copper, china, porcelain and silver. Intended for serving drinking chocolate, a beverage which was originally an exotic item imported from the Americas, they became more popular in Spain over the following century as chocolate consumption increased among all social classes, but especially in the Royal Palace. The latter commissioned silversmiths to make many different types of chocolate pots, as can be seen from the design by Domingo de Urquiza which this article publishes. In addition, we discuss eight additional Spanish chocolate pots made by different artists and in various places.