Product Description

Antique Laos Lime Pot 2

Material: Silver, copper
Style: Laos
Size: Height 16.5 cm, Diameter 4 cm
Order Number: MHSALLP2

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.

Silver lime pots come in various shapes and sizes. Sometimes the copper which is an ingredient in the silver alloy causes green staining. 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 lid and body are sometimes connected by a braided silver wire chain. Sometimes there is a silver spatula. Some have a ring on the top to attach it to a belt.  The pots may be plain or decorated with chased floral designs

This lime pot, with a removable top, held powdered lime for the betel quid.  There are traces of dried white lime inside.

There are similar examples in Thai Silver and Nielloware, Paul Bromberg, River Books, 2019, page 88 and in Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Dawn Rooney, Oxford University Press, 1993 Colour Plate 23.

Early 20th century

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