These sireh containers belonged to a ‘tempat sireh’ (‘sireh set’) which is the Baba Malay term for a box with a set of containers used to store the various ingredients used in betel-chewing, a practice common among the Peranakan Chinese. These gold containers with floral and leaf designs engraved on it, would probably hold ingredients such as ‘kapur’ (lime), ‘pinang’ (areca nut shavings), ‘gambir’ (gambier) and ‘temaco’ (tobacco). Tempat sireh is traditionally very important in Peranakan culture, with special significance for the Nonyas. Other than accompanying the day-to-day pleasure of chewing sireh, tempat sireh also played an important ceremonial role in many important rites such as those in a traditional wedding.
