Material: Silver, iron or bronze
Style: Thailand or Laos
Size: Length 9 cm, Width 1.75 cm
Order Number: MHSATBK1

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.

Knives are more common in Thailand than other countries. It seems that theThais preferred the areca nut in a fresh soft state, rather than the dried hardened state popular in other countries.

The following was inscribed in a Bangkok calendar for 1864, ‘The natives of Siam much prefer the nut in a fresh state before it is fully ripe.’

The handle is made of silver and the blade of steel (with high iron content). The handle is embossed with floral designs. The blade is probably held in place with gum.

The handle is embossed with flower designs. It is a beautiful example. The blade is curved upwards; this helps with cutting the nuts.

Belonged to the Thai Royal family.

19th century.

There is a similar example from Laos in The British Museum (Museum numberAs1971,06.5) and in the Asian Civilisations Museum (Accession No.2011-00845) and in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 90.

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

The post Antique Thai or Laos Betel Knife appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 9 cm, Width 7 cm
Order Number: MHSALTBLH1

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.

Betel leaf holders contained the already prepared betel quid, which was rolled in the leaf before being chewed.

In Vietnam, Laos and Northern Thailand silver betel leaf holders were normally triangular, usually decorated in repoussé, especially with concentric circles, floral motifs and whorls, but sometimes they were plain. They are in a flattened horn-like shape. The small base is usually a perforated, hexagonal base, often with a silver mark.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 84 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 62 and Betel and Miang, Vanishing Thai Habits, P.A. Reichart and H.P. Philipsen, White Lotus, 1996, page 98.

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

The post Antique Thai Triangular Betel Leaf Holder 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 11.5 cm, Width 7.5 cm
Order Number: MHSALTBLH2

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.

Betel leaf holders contained the already prepared betel quid, which was rolled in the leaf before being chewed.

In Vietnam, Laos and Northern Thailand silver betel leaf holders were normally triangular, usually decorated in repoussé, especially with concentric circles, floral motifs and whorls, but sometimes they were plain. They are in a flattened horn-like shape. The small base is usually a perforated, hexagonal base, often with a silver mark.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 84 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 62 and Betel and Miang, Vanishing Thai Habits, P.A. Reichart and H.P. Philipsen, White Lotus, 1996, page 98.

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

The post Antique Thai Triangular Betel Leaf Holder 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 12 cm, Width 8.5 cm
Order Number: MHSALTBLH3

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.

Betel leaf holders contained the already prepared betel quid, which was rolled in the leaf before being chewed.

In Vietnam, Laos and Northern Thailand silver betel leaf holders were normally triangular, usually decorated in repoussé, especially with concentric circles, floral motifs and whorls, but sometimes they were plain. They are in a flattened horn-like shape. The small base is usually a perforated, hexagonal base, often with a silver mark.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 84 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 62 and Betel and Miang, Vanishing Thai Habits, P.A. Reichart and H.P. Philipsen, White Lotus, 1996, page 98.

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

The post Antique Thai Triangular Betel Leaf Holder 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 9.5 cm, Width 6 cm
Order Number: MHSALTBLH4

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.

Betel leaf holders contained the already prepared betel quid, which was rolled in the leaf before being chewed.

In Vietnam, Laos and Northern Thailand silver betel leaf holders were normally triangular, usually decorated in repoussé, especially with concentric circles, floral motifs and whorls, but sometimes they were plain. They are in a flattened horn-like shape. The small base is usually a perforated, hexagonal base, often with a silver mark.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 84 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 62 and Betel and Miang, Vanishing Thai Habits, P.A. Reichart and H.P. Philipsen, White Lotus, 1996, page 98.

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

The post Antique Thai Triangular Betel Leaf Holder 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 9.5 cm, Width 6 cm
Order Number: MHSALTBLH5

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.

Betel leaf holders contained the already prepared betel quid, which was rolled in the leaf before being chewed.

In Vietnam, Laos and Northern Thailand silver betel leaf holders were normally triangular, usually decorated in repoussé, especially with concentric circles, floral motifs and whorls, but sometimes they were plain. They are in a flattened horn-like shape. The small base is usually a perforated, hexagonal base, often with a silver mark.

Early 20th century.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 84 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 62 and Betel and Miang, Vanishing Thai Habits, P.A. Reichart and H.P. Philipsen, White Lotus, 1996, page 98.

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

The post Antique Thai Triangular Betel Leaf Holder 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Rattan, lacquer
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 9 cm, Length 10 cm, Width 10 cm
Order Number: MHSTLB1

Early – mid 20th century.

Used mainly for storing glutinous or sticky rice, a staple food in north and northeastern Thailand. Lightly lacquered to make it more durable.

Please ask the price (or make an offer).

The post Thai Lacquer Box 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Rattan, lacquer
Style: Thailand
Size: Height 9 cm, Length 8.5 cm, Width 8.5 cm
Order Number: MHSTLB2

Early – mid 20th century.

Used mainly for storing glutinous or sticky rice, a staple food in north and northeastern Thailand. Lightly lacquered to make it more durable.

Please ask the price (or make an offer).

The post Thai Lacquer Box 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.