Drinks coaster, Empresa Municipal Gastronómica Mixta, Habana Vieja

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Drinks coaster, Empresa Municipal Gastronómica Mixta, Habana Vieja

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.293

Description

Round pressed-pulpboard coaster printed in blue on a cream ground. The central emblem is a stemmed goblet (copa) reserved in white against a blue pixelated/checkerboard diamond field. Around the rim, in blue capitals: "EMPRESA MUNICIPAL" (upper left), "GASTRONÓMICA MIXTA" (upper right), "HABANA" (lower left), "VIEJA" (lower right). The board is lightly toned and foxed with minor edge wear; the print is crisp. Eleven identical items.

Use

In the Arús Caraballo household.

Context

A coaster from the Empresa Municipal Gastronómica Mixta of Habana Vieja — the Cuban state municipal enterprise responsible for running restaurants, bars, and cafeterias in the Old Havana municipality. Under the socialist administrative system, food-and-drink service ("gastronomía") was organized through such state enterprises, and a generic coaster like this would have circulated across the enterprise's many establishments rather than being tied to a single venue (in contrast to the venue-specific La Bodeguita del Medio coaster).

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Empresa Municipal Gastronómica Mixta, Habana Vieja

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Source: Empresa Municipal Gastronómica Mixta, Habana Vieja (Cuban state municipal enterprise); printer unidentified. Date: undetermined; tentatively 1970s–1980s on the basis of the socialist-era enterprise structure and the graphic style. Not closely datable from the object. Place: Habana Vieja (Old Havana), Cuba.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Transcription

Empresa Municipal Gastronomica Mixta Habana Vieja

Language

Spanish

Dimensions

Diameter

9.5 cm

Materials

Material

Cardboard

Material Notes

Pressed wood-pulp coaster board; blue printing ink.

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Relationships

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 31, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026