Metate

Object Details

Description

A metate is a large, stone tool used for grinding food, including cacao beans. It usually has a broad, concave surface with a bowl-like indentation formed by the grinding process.

Chocolate had been known and treasured by Native Americans in Central and South America for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Cacao beans were so highly prized by Mayans and Aztecs that they were used as currency in many areas of the Americas. When first taken back to Europe by the Spanish, the chocolate drink continued to be produced exclusively for the enjoyment of royalty or the extremely wealthy. As the cacao bean gradually made its presence known throughout Europe, it still remained trapped in this exclusive section of society well into the 19th century.

The chocolate trade to North America began more than 300 years ago, primarily centered in or near major port cities of the time, such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Newport, RI. Due to lower transportation costs, chocolate was often less expensive in the Americas than in Europe and therefore had a broader consumer base. The Industrial Revolution radically changed chocolate production and helped propel it into the hearts and stomachs of the working class. Instead of being a labor intensive product, it became entirely machine made reducing costs even further in the late 19th and early 20th century. During this time, chocolate went from being something a person drank to being something to eat, finally becoming a treat for the masses.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association of the USA

ID Number

AG.76-FT-04.0055 [dup2]

accession number

315132

catalog number

76-FT-04.0055

Object Name

Metta

Physical Description

stone (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 23.5 cm x 29 cm x 40.5 cm; 9 1/4 in x 11 7/16 in x 15 15/16 in

See more items in

Work and Industry: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Food

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_867616

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-d8d3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa