This sireh set comprises a lacquered wooden box with two compartments, lined with a piece of cloth. It houses four round metal sireh boxes and cups, meant to hold ingredients necessary for sireh chewing such as lime leaves, tobacco, and cloves. This set is missing the small shears used for slicing the betel nuts. Sireh-chewing originated from India or Southeast Asia, and was commonly practiced by Peranakan women till the mid-20th century.Sireh sets also played an important symbolic ceremonial role in wedding rituals. It was used to ‘open’ the dialogue between two families about a possible match and acted as an ‘elder’ or ‘witness’ to nuptial proceedings in the wedding chamber. A bride also walked into her new home carrying her sireh set, as it represented her virtue as a maiden when she was formally accepted by her mother-in-law into her husband’s family. This object belonged to Wee Bee Neo, a prominent Sang Khek Umm or mistress of wedding ceremonies. As a wedding specialist, she was in charge of the bride’s hair and jewellery, and guiding the young lady through the proper rituals.
