Mate coquimbano is a mate cup style produced in 19th century in the area near the port of Coquimbo in northern Chile. [1] The Mate coquimbano is typically made of low grade silver alloy with sparse geometric or vegetal motiff decoration made of copper or bronze. [1] The silver used originated in the mining district of Chañarcillo, [1] where a silver rush took place in the 1830s and 1840s. [2] Being cheaper than mate cups of purer silver and gold Mate coquimbano cups were common among the populace. [1]
Contrary to many contemporary mate cups in Chile that had until then followed European fashionable styles such as Baroque and Neoclassicism the Mate coquimbano had evident mestizo influences. [3] Over time, aspects of the Mate coquimbano style diffused into the neighboring Andean region of Argentina. [1]