Betelnut accessories (1) - Silver - Lime Box laquée - Burma - Early twentieth

DESCRIPTION Big and heavy oval box in solid silver carved with a nice floral design at the top, a classic design in Myanmar still of remarkable quality. The designs on the reverse of the box are the symbol of the manufacturer which was not often done and was a guarantee of the quality of the work. The body of the box was covered in black lacquer using a technique no longer used today. Such boxes are becoming increasingly rare and hard to find in Myanmar. 65 mm high, 80 mm long, 40 mm wide. Weight: 150 g. JEAN DUMOULIN'S TRAVEL DIARY These boxes traditionally contained lime which, mixed with areca nuts, spices or tobacco, were used to make betel quid. This was common practice in many South East Asian countries and is still very much alive today, especially in Myanmar. It gives users a mild euphoric feeling. From experience, in order to have a serious conversation with someone who uses betel quid, one should make an appointment in the morning rather than late in the day, as listening and understanding may well be lacking at that point. Moreover, this practice affects the teeth and gums of the users, giving them an unmistakable red smile. CONDITION Good condition for an object dating from this period, bears signs of its use, traces of lime. Will be packaged with care and sent via Bpost with insurance and tracking number.