Name/Title
Beer coaster with manuscript annotation by Cuban technicians, CzechoslovakiaEntry/Object ID
2025.1.286Description
Round pulpboard beer coaster (beermat). The front carries a printed border ring of foaming beer mugs/steins in yellow and black around a blank cream field marked at center with a small red asterisk/florette. The back bears a manuscript inscription in blue ballpoint, dated "23/12/85," reading "Hoy nos reunimos cinco buenos compañeros: [first name uncertain], Leo, Paco, Martha y Lastra, así:" ("Today five good companions gathered: …, like this:"), followed by five ink signatures. Both faces are toned and foxed. Two other similar coasters in the collection, without script.Use
Belonged to Leopoldo Arús Caraballo, one of the five.Context
A Czechoslovak beer coaster kept as a personal memento. On 23 December 1985, five Cuban colleagues gathered abroad and signed the coaster as a keepsake of the reunion, naming themselves (first name uncertain), Leo, Paco, Martha, and Lastra. The piece documents the everyday sociability and bloc mobility of Cuban workers/technicians in Eastern Europe, and is itself a specimen of Czechoslovak pub material culture.Collection
The Cabrera Arús family collection, Leopoldo Arús Caraballo collectionMade/Created
Date made
circa 1985Time Period
1980sPlace
Country
CzechoslovakiaRegion
Eastern EuropeContinent
EuropeNotes
Coaster: Czechoslovak printer/brewery, unidentified (no brand or printer text visible).
Annotation: by the five Cuban signatories, hand-dated 23 December 1985.
Date: coaster printed by/before December 1985; manuscript dated 23/12/1985.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
NoteLocation
Back of coasterTranscription
Hoy nos reuni-mos cinco buenos compáneros: Layleyne, Leo, Paco, Martha Y., Lastra, así: (signatures)Language
SpanishTranslation
today we meet five good companions: layne, leo, paco, martha y., Lastra, like this: (signatures)Material/Technique
PenNotes
Dated December 23, 1985Materials
Material
CardboardMaterial Notes
Pressed wood-pulp coaster board; printed inks (front); blue ballpoint ink (back).Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Leopoldo Arús CaraballoNotes
OwnerRelated Places
Place
Country
CzechoslovakiaRegion
Eastern EuropeContinent
EuropeNotes
Production, acquisitionPlace
City
HavanaCountry
CubaRegion
Caribbean, Central AmericaNotes
OwnershipPlace
Country
CzechoslovakiaRegion
Eastern EuropeContinent
EuropeNotes
productionCreated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsCreate Date
May 23, 2022Updated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsUpdate Date
June 18, 2026
