Thai, Fine, Pierced Silver Betel Box

This round, pierced box in high-grade silver is from Thailand, most probably Bangkok, and was made by local Sino-Thai silversmiths. The box would have held the elements of the betel quid (betel being a mild social stimulant).

The round form of this box is typically Thai when it comes to betel boxes.

The sides and cover are pierced finely and decorated with bamboo canes and leaves and branches of another flowering shrub.

The cover is slightly domed.

The base is of sheet silver, and is stamped twice with the Chinese characters 和盛  which transliterates as ‘He Sheng’ (literally, ‘Harmonious; Flourishing/Prosperity’) which is likely a brandname or shop mark.

A related box is illustrated in Bromberg (2018, p. 32).

The box here is in fine condition and is free of dents, splits or repairs. The lid fits tightly.