ANTIQUE ROUND CONICAL SILVER TIMMI SIRIH LIME BOX WITH LARGE DHARMACHAKRA SYMBOL – BHUTAN – 19^th C.

This silver lime box, also called “timmi”, originates from Bhutan.

The silver cover is of conical form and shows beautiful repoussé work. The cover is skilfully decorated with two dragons, bumba vase, fish, cintamani, small auspicious symbols (such as shanka, dharmachakra, endless knot, lotus flower) and fine foliate and wavy designs. The cover is crowned with a turquoise stone or a glass inlay.. The repoussé sides shows delicate curly leaves patterns all around. The bottom depicts a large dharmachakra symbol. Internally, the timmi is lime encrusted and shows signs of genuine age and use.

The dharmacakra symbolizes the teaching of Buddha, and is the source of spiritual values, wealth, love and liberation. The wheel has eight spokes, representing the Buddha’s eightfold noble path and the transmission of these teachings towards the eight directions.

Sirih (betel) is a plant in the pepper family and is best known for using by betel chewing. Betel was chewed in Bhutan as it was and 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. Unavoidable with betel-chewing is the red liquid that colours the teeth and even corrodes the tooth glaze causing the loss of teeth; for this reason the habit never got popular with Europeans living in the tropics.

The sirih box serves to store the implements used for betel consumption.

Age: 19^th C.

Size: diameter 9 cm, about 5.5 cm high.

Weight: 185 gr.

Condition: This object is in good condition taking into account its high age except the bottom has at the rim some cracks due to long time use and high age. Good patina and signs of high age and long time use. Look carefully to the pictures which are an integral part of the description. Consequently any damage or repair to the object not mentioned in the text, but visible in the photos, are considered to be described.

The description and explanation of the item have been made in good faith and to the best of my knowledge. The dimensions are measured manually and are therefore approximate. Colors may differ slightly from the original colors. This is a private sale as I am not a professional seller; I am a collector who liquidates his collection. Therefore, I do not accept returns unless in very exceptional cases. In any case, the return costs are to be paid by the buyer. I hope you will understand this. Please don’t hesitate to request before purchasing all information you need. Your satisfaction and positive feedback is very important to me. If you have any problems with the item or services, please feel free to contact me first before you leave negative feedback. I will do my best to solve any problems.

By purchasing this item, the buyers expressly declare that they are fully aware of the regulations and laws of their own country regarding the import of the purchased goods and that the seller cannot be held responsible for any costs or for any problems that may arise in their own country such as for example, the payment of taxes and duties, or the seizure or even the destruction by the customs or other authorities.

Combined shipping: If you would like to buy several objects at the same time, combined shipping is possible if those objects can easily be stored in the same package. In principle the shipping costs will only be charged once.