Silver Inlaid Betel Nut Box
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Silver Inlaid Betel Nut Box
About the Item
Betel nut, for those unfamiliar, is a mild stimulant that is chewed throughout the Asian continent. The almost ceremonial and habitual chewing of the betel nut usually involves four ingredients: areca nut (bunga), fresh pepper leaves (buyo), powder lime (apug), and damp tobacco leaves. The white residue on edge is slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide) which releases the alkaloid in the Betel Nut.
This is a fine old box made in the early 20th century. Both the Fowler Museum at UCLA (catalog item number X79-15a,b) and the Smithsonian Institute (museum catalog number 383314) have very similar examples of this same type of betel box in their collection.
Dimensions are 5.75 inches x2.75 inches x 2.75 inches.
- Dimensions:Height: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)Width: 5.75 in (14.61 cm)Depth: 5.75 in (14.61 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1900
- Condition:excellent with only minor silver loss.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: U0901058476260
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