Zanzibar Gold & Silver Domed Betel (Tambuu) Box

This heavy box, most probably intended to serve as a betel nut (tambuu) box, is from the Swahili Coast on eastern Africa, and most probably from Zanzibar. The Swahili Coast had strong trading and migratory links with the Middle East, most particularly with the traders and rulers of Oman.

It comprises a flared base and a tightly fitting domed lid. Both the base and the lid are of beaten silver have been chased with floral cartouches and hands. Additionally gold bands, highlights and triangular plaques have been applied.

The lid is surmounted by a flower finial comprises engraved silver ‘petals’. In the middle of this is a petalled stamen of gold.

Additionally, the dome is decorated with two bands of beaded gold, and then the lower-most part of the cover is decorated with a band of plain gold sheet.

The base has been embellished with alternating applied triangular gold plaques. These are plain in contrast with the surrounding silver decoration. All are present, though some have losses to their points.

The silver edges of the base and lid have been ‘beaded’ or ‘pearled’.

Overall, the box and cover have an Islamic architectural form.

It is possible – likely even – that this box was intended to sit on a silver and gold tray similarly decorated, an example of which we have previously sold. See that tray here.

Zanzibar items are rare – and yet Zanzibar was an important centre for trade especially in ivory, slaves, spices, grain and many other items. It linked the east coast of Africa to the Middle East and to India. As a consequence, it was an important centre for raw materials for the production of luxury goods that were subsequently traded around the world, including to Europe and the United States. It was ruled by an Islamic sultan installed in a local palace and as a consequence there was demand for local production of luxury goods as well, for the palace and related aristocrats and wealthy merchants and also to be given as diplomatic gifts. It is in this context that the gold and silver box here can be considered.

Inset and applied gold plaques over silver is characteristic of Zanzibar work. Such panels can be seen on the ivory hilts of Omani-influenced sword that were manufactured in Zanzibar in the eighteenth century. Examples of these swords are illustrated in Hales (2013, pp. 237-139). The manner of such work clearly is influenced by Omani silver and gold-smithing particularly that from Nizwa in Oman.

Zanzibar comprises two larger islands and a series of smaller islands 25-50 kilometres off the coast of East Africa. Arab traders visited and traded with the islands for many centuries. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Zanzibar was under Portuguese control. And in 1698, it was sized by the Sultanate of Oman, and a ruling Arab elite with a local sultan was installed which developed the local economy further enhancing its trading links with the Middle East and with India.

Important trading communities of Muscat-descended Arabs and Indian Muslims established themselves in Zanzibar. The Indian Muslims comprised Ismailis – Khojas – and Bohoras particularly. Parsees from India also were another significant community. Another Muslim community, the Wahadimu, evolved too, by intermarriage between Africans and Arabs. Other groups included Ceylonese, Christian Goanese of Portuguese and Indian descent, and Indian Baluchis.

Zanzibar became renown as a source of ivory, spices and slaves. It also became a regional entrepot and was an important source of goods that were traded into Africa. The Sultan of Zanzibar also controlled parts of the East African coast which also facilitated this. By the mid-19th century, Zanzibar was the biggest slave centre in East Africa with around 50,000 slaves passing through its docks each year.

By the late 19th century, Zanzibar was under the control of the British. The islands gained independence from Britain in December 1963. A month later, the Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba was formed in a revolution that saw thousands of Arabs and Indians killed. The following April, the republic was subsumed into the mainland former colony of Tanganyika (later Tanzania). Zanzibar today has semi-autonomous status.

The box here is in fine condition. As mentioned, there are losses to the edges of some of the gold plaques about the body, but all the plaques themselves are present.

Zanzibar items are found in the UK because the UK was the colonial ruler of Tanzania and Kenya. Many British people today were born in the two countries – their parents were colonial administrators, school teachers, medical staff, and so on. Keepsakes such as the box here were either bought as keepsakes or gifted by local rulers and later brought back to the UK.