Beautiful & Intricately Detailed Antique Southeast Asian Silver Inlaid Betel Nut Box. Made in Morocco.

Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth.

Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass Betel Boxes.

Betel nut chewing, also called betel quid chewing or areca nut chewing, is a practice in which areca nuts are chewed together with slaked lime and betel leaves for their stimulant and narcotic effects, the primary psychoactive compound being arecoline.

This Beautiful Box Features Double Compartments with Hinged Lids are on Side.

Original "Made in Morocco" Sticker on Bottom of Box.

Box Measures:

L: 1.5"

W: 4.25"

H: 2.5"

Exceptionally executed throughout, with Intricate Patterned Details & Beaded Edges.

A Beautiful Rare & Unique Antique to Add to an Existing Collection.

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