Elegant tea set with abalone inlay. Features a teapot and sugar bowl. The object in the image is a vintage Mexican abalone and metal pitcher or sugar bowl, likely made in the mid-20th century. It features iridescent abalone shell pieces inlaid in a mosaic pattern. These items were commonly crafted in Taxco, Mexico, by artisans such as Salvador Teran and Los Castillo, and often used "alpaca silver" (a nickel alloy) or brass for the metal base. The abalone shell displays an array of pearly whites, blues, greens, pinks, and purples that reflect light. Similar pieces are often part of a set, which can include a larger pitcher and coordinating cups. The design is characteristic of Mid-Century Modern Mexican silversmithing and decorative arts.