Title
'Sireh' box
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Dimension
Object size: L: 28.4,
x W: 13.5,
x H: 11.0 cm
x W: 13.5,
x H: 11.0 cm
Accession No.
2000-08806-001
Collection of
Peranakan Chinese, in particular the older womenfolk, were fond of chewing betel leaves (‘duan sireh’ in Malay). Offering someone betel leaf was an invitation, an act of friendliness or a token of an agreement. The leaves are usually eaten after a meal with a lime paste spread and sprinkled with shaved betel nut. This lacquered box is part of a sireh box set that consists of four separate containers for holding betel leaves, powdered gambier, lime and sliced betel nuts respectively. The set also comes with a pair of shears used for cutting betel nuts.
