Box - .900 silver - Betel nut box lion

A beautifully detailed antique Thai silver miniature betel nut box in the shape of a seated Thai temple lion (Singha) or mythological lion. This exceedingly charming object dates from the early to mid-twentieth century, presumably made between 1920 and 1940, and originates from Thailand. Such boxes were at the time used by Southeast Asian elites to store ingredients for the traditional betel culture. The box opens horizontally along the belly line, with the inside beautifully showcasing the authentic, artisanal handwork of the silversmith through the traditional repoussé technique.

The animal figure is crafted with great precision. Silversmiths from that region deliberately chose this stylized form for the following reasons:

The iconography: Mythical lions were traditionally depicted in Thai and Khmer culture with large, expressive round eyes, wrinkles, a somewhat flat snout, and often a ceremonial collar with a bell.

Dog versus lion: Because real lions did not naturally occur in Southeast Asia, artists based themselves on mythical descriptions and the outward characteristics of short-nosed dogs (such as Pugs or Pekingese) that were then imported by royal houses from China and Europe.

On the underside there is the rare and sought-after official export hallmark T900, which guarantees a high silver content of 900/1000 fineness. This handy travel piece has a compact size of 3.5 centimeters in height, 5 centimeters in length and 3 centimeters in width, with a total weight of 14 grams. The item is in excellent antique condition with a beautiful deep patina in the deeper areas, which beautifully accentuates the expression of the Singha.

The box closes perfectly and the parts fit together perfectly; truly pure craftsmanship.

Dimensions: 3.5x5x3 cm
Weight: 14 g