Silver Betel Leaf Holder Asian

Hi everyone…

Can someone tell me how much this might be worth and also know where I may be able to sell it? Thanks in advance!

 

It has a bunch of Chinese motifs on it - peaches, fish etc, but those were also used elsewhere. Someone who can at least identify the marks on the bottom might tell you more.

 

Yes I noticed the markings look like Chinese writing but a lot of it is rubbed off.

 

maybe u could try Justask . com.....

they might be able to provide a value , and whom u should sell it to !

 

Thank you. Was I not supposed to ask here? I apologize I am new to this website.

 

we r not Justask....

We will endeavour to tell u all we can about your item, but what it's worth and where to find a buyer........ that's not part of what we do here...

You could check on eBay sold items, as they may have ballpark values of comparable items , or Asian auction sites..

 

I wonder what @Any Jewelry and @Shangas will think of this one ...

(I don't think we'll get a "fight" over it, as happened here https://www.antiquers.com/threads/chinese-export-silver-incense-holder.27179/)

 

That I can't tell you. I suspect you are in New Zealand, and I am in Europe, so different markets.
I can elaborate on 'Asian':
It is a Thai style betel leaf holder, made by a Thai Chinese silversmith, probably ca 1900.
Many Thai silversmiths are of Chinese origin.

Those are stamped maker's and/or workshop marks. More likely badly stamped, rather than worn off. Yours is not the first silver piece with badly stamped marks, so not something to worry about.

Exactly.

 

I have my own Thai silver betel leaf holder now, no more fighting.
And I am very happy with mine:


https://www.antiquers.com/threads/silver-thai-chinese-betel-leaf-holder.89629/#post-10345849

I collect primarily Indonesian betel paraphernalia, but I can be seduced by a related beauty like this.

I believe @Shangas is still looking for one.

 

Thanks for everyone’s reply… so what is this used for? Honestly it’s beautiful and I do not want to part with it, but I also have a lot of things and we don’t live forever so why keep it?

 

I understand, sorry about that and thank you.

 

This is beautiful.

 

It is a presentation holder for betel leaves. The leaves are arranged in an upright position, so guests can take one out and make their own betel 'parcel' to chew.
Betel use has a ceremonial origin, which developed into a welcoming ritual for guests. From their it grew into everyday use in some regions.

 

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing. Ya learn something new everyday.

 

It's a betel leaf holder. Filled with stacked, individual leaves.

Take a leaf - add sliced betelnut, slaked lime - roll it up into a little betel burrito - and start chewing!

Then when you're done, hock the mass into a spittoon.

 

Fascinating… so it’s like tobacco?

 

Interesting! Is it like tobacco chewing?

 

similar........Betel nut chewing, also called betel quid chewing or areca nut chewing, is a practice in which areca nuts are chewed together with slaked lime and betel leaves for their stimulant and narcotic effects, the primary psychoactive compound being arecoline.

 

and you can't beat that smile......

 

Yes, betel-chewing was similar to chewing tobacco. Has a similar effect, too.

People have been trying to stamp it out for decades, and in some places it's illegal because of the mess involved, but people still do it...