Lime container ·  Indonesia - Sumatra · ID: 3033571

Description

bamboo container, richly decorated with incised geometrical ornaments and two birds, painted wooden stopper in form of a chicken, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of usage;
lime is used for chewing betel. Betel is a natural stimulant with a slightly analeptic effect. Nowadays it is only used by elder people, mostly women. A piece of betel nut is wrapped in a leaf of the so-called betelpepper “sirih”, together with some lime and “gambir”, a concentrated extract of leaves.

Comparing literature

Sibeth, Achim, Batak, Kunst aus Sumatra, Frankfurt am Main 2000, p. 81