Bhutanese Parcel-Gilt Silver Betel Box

This fine example of a Bhutanese silver betel box is of rectangular form with bevelled edges, top and bottom. All sides and the top and bottom are parcel-gilt whereby the detailing in the motifs has been carefully picked out and gilded (gold plated), providing a pleasing contrast between the gold and the silver.

The cover has been chased with a bird (perhaps a garuda) perched atop a complex flower, surrounded by more foliage and flower motifs within a border that is similarly decorated.

The sides are decorated with pearled silver edging and parcel-gilt Himalayan scrolling foliage.

The base has as its central motifs a pair of fish suggestive of fertility and bounty, surrounded by flowing ribbons, against a tooled background, and within parcel gilt borders of flower and foliage scrolling.

Bhutanese men wore long robes and within the robes were large pouches or pockets in which a betel box such as this example might be concealed. The sliding of the box in and out of these pouches is why they so typically have wear (as does this example).

An example is illustrated in Myers & Bean (1994, p., 123).

Betel or paan was chewed in Bhutan as it was (and in some cases, still is) in India and Southeast Asia. The actual nut comes from a certain palm tree which was sliced, wrapped in a betel leaf along with powdered lime (usually obtained from crushed, burned seashells or coral) and chewed to give a mild narcotic effect.

The box here is in fine condition and with desirable, obvious signs of wear and use. (Reproductions abound now, so authenticating appropriate wear is important.)