{"id":8477948870806,"title":"Straits Chinese Betel-nut or sireh container, 19th century","handle":"straits-chinese-betel-nut-or-sireh-container-19th-century","description":"\u003cp\u003eStraits Chinese Betel-nut or sireh container, 19th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Straits Chinese silver Betel-nut container was used for chewing betel ‘quid’ or ‘chew’.\u003cbr\u003eBetel-nut, also known as sireh, consisted of shaved areca nut with lime paste wrapped in green betel leaf. For flavour various spices, herbs and even tobacco was included. Chewing betel quid is most famous for causing black teeth and red stained lips. An extremely popular practice across Asia and Oceania, chewing betel quid was common from antiquity to 1945, with it being banned in Thailand due to being viewed by the government as ‘uncivilised’. The practice has practically become non-existent. Among the various immigrant communities of Straits Chinese, Peranakan Chinese immigrants in Malaya and Singapore were alone in adopting the Hindu-Malay custom of chewing betel-nut leaves. Wealthy Straits Chinese merchants and traders commissioned Straits silversmiths to produce these intricate silver utensils for the practice. Small circular boxes were typically\u003cbr\u003edesigned for travel. This cylindrical silver betel-nut container is intricately engraved with floral patterns, with the lid including a gold disc with designs of swirling foliage and a floral star shape around a circular centre. Other patterns include lattice shaped designs, flowers and foliage. This beautiful betel-nut container is a fine example of an ancient practice which is now rarely partaken in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurments:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 5.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 5.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 80 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2025-09-01T16:24:46+01:00","created_at":"2025-09-01T16:24:42+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Straits Chinese Betel-nut or sireh container, 19th century","tags":["Chinese Straits Silver"],"price":60000,"price_min":60000,"price_max":60000,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":45567350538390,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-STRA-07208","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Straits Chinese Betel-nut or sireh container, 19th century","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":60000,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image0_3.jpg?v=1756739898","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image1_2.jpg?v=1756739928","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image2_2.jpg?v=1756739938","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image3_2.jpg?v=1756739948"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image0_3.jpg?v=1756739898","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":30784030441622,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"width":1600,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image0_3.jpg?v=1756739898"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image0_3.jpg?v=1756739898","width":1600},{"alt":null,"id":30784033718422,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"width":1600,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image1_2.jpg?v=1756739928"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image1_2.jpg?v=1756739928","width":1600},{"alt":null,"id":30784035094678,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"width":1600,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image2_2.jpg?v=1756739938"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image2_2.jpg?v=1756739938","width":1600},{"alt":null,"id":30784036372630,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"width":1600,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image3_2.jpg?v=1756739948"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/image3_2.jpg?v=1756739948","width":1600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eStraits Chinese Betel-nut or sireh container, 19th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Straits Chinese silver Betel-nut container was used for chewing betel ‘quid’ or ‘chew’.\u003cbr\u003eBetel-nut, also known as sireh, consisted of shaved areca nut with lime paste wrapped in green betel leaf. For flavour various spices, herbs and even tobacco was included. Chewing betel quid is most famous for causing black teeth and red stained lips. An extremely popular practice across Asia and Oceania, chewing betel quid was common from antiquity to 1945, with it being banned in Thailand due to being viewed by the government as ‘uncivilised’. The practice has practically become non-existent. Among the various immigrant communities of Straits Chinese, Peranakan Chinese immigrants in Malaya and Singapore were alone in adopting the Hindu-Malay custom of chewing betel-nut leaves. Wealthy Straits Chinese merchants and traders commissioned Straits silversmiths to produce these intricate silver utensils for the practice. Small circular boxes were typically\u003cbr\u003edesigned for travel. This cylindrical silver betel-nut container is intricately engraved with floral patterns, with the lid including a gold disc with designs of swirling foliage and a floral star shape around a circular centre. Other patterns include lattice shaped designs, flowers and foliage. This beautiful betel-nut container is a fine example of an ancient practice which is now rarely partaken in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurments:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 5.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 5.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 80 grams\u003c\/p\u003e"}