Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 4

A small Dutch colonial Indonesian tortoiseshell betel box with gold mounts

About the Item

Jakarta (Batavia), 18th century, apparently unmarked L. 14 x W. 9.5 x H. 4.7 cm Before settling down to business in the former Dutch East Indies, sirih had to be offered in the most exquisite boxes of gold, silver, inlaid with precious stones, ivory, or tortoiseshell. The costliness of one’s sirih box displayed one’s fortunes. Sirih or Betel boxes with gold mounts are rare because the gold was often melted down in times of dire need.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.86 in (4.7 cm)Width: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)Depth: 5.52 in (14 cm)
  • Style:
    Dutch Colonial (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 18th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Amsterdam, NL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5458239038692

More From This Seller

View All
A Dutch colonial ebony box with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Batavia (Jakarta), or Sri Lanka, circa 1680-1720 The document or money box is densely carved with fine scrolling vines and lotus flowers. It has a charming heart- shapes silver lock...
Category

Antique Late 17th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antiquities

Materials

Silver

A Dutch colonial ebony box with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Batavia (Jakarta), or Sri Lanka, circa 1680-1720 The document or money box is densely carved with fine scrolling vines and lotus flowers. It has a charming heart- shapes silver lock...
Category

Antique 17th Century Indonesian Antiquities

Materials

Silver

A large Dutch colonial ebony cabinet with brass mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Dutch colonial ebony cabinet with brass mounts on contemporary black steel frame Batavia (Jakarta), 2nd half 17th century The cabinet has two ...
Category

Antique Mid-17th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antiquities

Materials

Brass

A 17th century Dutch-colonial ebony two-door VOC cabinet with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Dutch-colonial ebony two-door cabinet with silver mounts Coromandel Coast, probably Masulipatnam, circa 1650-1680, the silver later H. 64.5 x W. 75 x D. 46 cm The present cabinet...
Category

Antique 17th Century Indian Dutch Colonial Antiquities

Materials

Silver

18th-century Dutch-colonial Peranakan mother-of-pearl casket with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An Indonesian Peranakan mother-of-pearl inlaid mastic sirih casket with silver mounts Jakarta (Batavia), circa 1720-1730, the silver hinges marked for Batavia, maker’s mark HS or SH...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antiquities

Materials

Silver

Two Dutch Colonial Tortoiseshell Bible Boxes with Silver Mounts, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Tortoiseshell and silver H. 5 x W. 22 x D. 12 cm Tortoiseshell and silver H. 4.3 x W. 17 x D. 9.5 cm The function of bible boxes in the Dutch East Indies was just as much a status symbol, to show off one's wealth on the way to church, as it was to hold a small bible or hymnbook. Bible boxes existed in gold, silver, ivory, sometimes inlaid with precious stones, and in Coromandel or ebony wood. In the Dutch East Indies on the way to church, the women tried to display their fortune by the costliness of her bible box. The highest-ranking women had gold bible boxes, inlaid with precious stones, carried by a slave. The lower-ranking women had wooden bible boxes as the present ones. In 1754 Governor-General Jacob Mossel decreed that only the wives and widows of a Governor-General, Director General, Councillor of India or President of the Justice Council, were allowed to carry golden boxes...
Category

Antique 18th Century Sri Lankan Dutch Colonial Vases

Materials

Silver

You May Also Like

Kashmiri Silver Betel Nut Box, Khaas Daan, Late 19th Century
Located in Islamabad, PK
Kashmiri silver betel nut box, Khaas Daan, late 19th century Betel-chewing is a leisure pastime practiced since ancient times in many parts of ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Anglo Raj Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver

Vintage Dutch Colonial Indonesian Square Center Table with Marble Inset
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Dutch Colonial vintage Indonesian square center table from the mid-20th century, with marble inset. Born in Indonesia during the midcentury period, this elegant center table...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Center Tables

Materials

Marble

Dutch Colonial Indonesian Cane and Wood Plantation Chair with Extending Arms
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Dutch Colonial Indonesian cane and wood plantation chair from the 20th century with extending arms and turned baluster legs. This antique Dutch Colonial Indonesian plantation chair from the 20th century is an exquisite blend of form and function, showcasing the artistry of the Dutch Colonial era in Indonesia. Crafted from sturdy wood and adorned with traditional cane weaving, this chair boasts extending arms and elegant turned baluster legs that elevate its timeless design. The plantation chair features a generously sized, curved seat and a sloping backrest, both expertly crafted with caning to provide comfort and breathability in tropical climates. The caning adds a sense of airiness and lightness to the chair, making it an inviting spot to relax and unwind. A standout feature of this Dutch Colonial Indonesian chair...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Lounge Chairs

Materials

Cane, Wood

Dutch Silver Plate Trinket Box Casket 1930 Hallmark
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Dutch silver plate trinket box and cover Circa 1930 This pretty piece is embossed with figures and animals We can ship to anywhere in the wor...
Category

Vintage 1930s Antiquities

Materials

Silver Plate

Dutch Colonial Early 20th Century Indonesian Display Cabinet with Carved Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Dutch Colonial period Indonesian display cabinet from the early 20th century, with carved motifs, glass doors and cabriole legs. Created in Indonesia during the early years of the 20th century, this Dutch Colonial display cabinet...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Teak

Chinese Enamel and White Jade Mounted Silver Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Chinese Enamel and White Jade Mounted Silver Box Late 19th/early 20th Century. The underside marked silver. The rectangular silver box with a hinged lid set with a jade panel pierce...
Category

20th Century Antiquities

Materials

Enamel

Recently Viewed

View All