Product Description

Antique Laos Lime Pot 4

Material: Bronze
Style: Laos
Size: Height 14.5 cm, Diameter 4 cm
Order Number: MHSALLP4

The basic ingredients of a betel quid are betel leaf, areca nut and lime powder. Gambir and tobacco may be added  to make it more fragrant.

The containers and implements included boxes of various shapes and sizes to store the betel nuts,  betel leaf holders for the already prepared betel quid, lime containers, hinged cutters, similar to scissors, to cut the hard areca nut, knives to cut the softer nuts, pounders to crush the nut, salve boxes to hold beeswax for the lips, spittoons, tobacco pouches and trays on which they all were displayed.

Lime pots come in various shapes and sizes. In Laos and Northern Thailand lime pots are often in the shape of a  tall long cylinder. The domed cover is shaped like a lotus bud and is about a third of the height. The pots may be plain or decorated.

This lime pot, with a removable top, held powdered lime for the betel quid.  There are traces of dried white lime inside. There is no surface decoration. It is elegant with a short body and a long slender cover. The cover or lid ends in 4 steps with a lotus bud-like nob on top.

There are similar examples in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993 page 87.

Early 20th century

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).