Rare-Tribal Bamboo Wooden Betel Nut Lime Container Timor Indonesia Tribal Atoni

Description

Tribal Bamboo Wooden Betel Nut Lime Container Timor Indonesia Tribal Atoni. Measures: 6 5/8" Long x 1 1/4" Wide. With Carved Head Lid/Stopper.
VINTAGE OR ANTIQUE HOLLOW BAMBOO TUBE / BOX. HAND MADE SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS ( FROM NEW GUINEA TO INDONESIA) FOR CARRYING SOME FORM OF LIME FOR THE CHEMICAL BREAK DOWN OF BETAL NUTS. BETAL NUTS ARE A POPULAR, MILD STIMULANT USED THROUGHOUT SOUTH EAST ASIA. IT STAINS THE TEETH OF THE USER RED. THE TUBE IS BEAUTIFULLY MADE. CARVED WITH A DECORATIVE RIM AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM WITH A VALLEY INSIDE THE RIM AS WELL. PERHAPS FOR SOME PRACTICAL PURPOSE OR JUST DECORATIVE. THESE BOXES ARE ALL AS DIFFERENT IN LITTLE WAYS AS THE PERSON WHO MADE IT. IT IS COVERED IN PATTERNS MADE IN VERY SHALLOW ETCHED LINES, THEN COVERED WITH A BLACK PASTE, WHICH IS THEN WIPED AWAY, LEAVING THE EXPOSED INTRICATE DESIGNS. VERY MUCH LIKE THE WHALERS SCRIMSHAW PROCESS. IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. SOME SAY THE BOX IS FOR TOBACCO OR SNUFF.  AS TO ORIGIN, WE CAN'T SAY EXACTLY WHERE ITS FROM.THE FEW I'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN LABELLED AS COMING FROM EAST TIMOR IN INDONESIA. BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, PACIFIC ISLANDS OR OCEANIA. THEY SEEM TO RANGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NEW GUINEA/BORNEO OR THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, ETC, AND MOST WITH SIMILAR PATTERNS. MADE SOMETIME BETWEEN 1920 AND AND 1940. A FINE
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