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Large Malay Brass Betel or Tobacco Box
Brunei or Malay Peninsular
19th century
length: 23.2 cm; width: 11.4 cm; height: 8 cm
The tightly fitting, hinged lid of this box is incised with swirling foliate motifs and stylised Chinese key-fret patterns that is common among Brunei brassware.
Boxes such as these appear to be based on 18th century Dutch tobacco boxes of similar though smaller form. (Indonesia was a Dutch colony). They were
used to hold either betel or tobacco.
Reference: A brass box from Brunei that is similarly large and with similar motifs engraved on its lid is shown in Roth, H.L., Oriental Silverwork: Malay and
Chinese, Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 282.
Inventory no.: 313
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Large Malay Brass Betel or Tobacco Box
Brunei or Malay Peninsular
19th century
length: 23.2 cm; width: 11.4 cm; height: 8 cm
The tightly fitting, hinged lid of this box is incised with swirling foliate motifs and stylised Chinese key-fret patterns that is common among Brunei brassware.
Boxes such as these appear to be based on 18th century Dutch tobacco boxes of similar though smaller form. (Indonesia was a Dutch colony). They were
used to hold either betel or tobacco.
Reference: A brass box from Brunei that is similarly large and with similar motifs engraved on its lid is shown in Roth, H.L., Oriental Silverwork: Malay and
Chinese, Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 282.
Inventory no.: 313
This Item is available - Ask about this item
