Terms and conditions of use
Betel-box
(Kun-it)
(early 20th century)
Medium
lacquer, bamboo
Measurements
(a-d) 22.0 × 22.8 cm diameter (overall)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of John McCarthy in memory of Edwin and Margot McCarthy through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2012
Gallery location
Level 1, NGV International
About this work
Kun-it are cylindrical lidded boxes used for storing the ingredients required in the preparation of quids, chewable portions of leaves from the betel plant. An essential item of hospitality in a Burmese home, a kun-it set is the equivalent of a tea or coffee service. Two internal trays hold chopped areca nuts, various spices, lime paste, metal nut-cutters and dry tobacco leaves. The bottom compartment is filled with heart-shaped betel-vine leaves. When the box is presented, visitors take a leaf, smear it with lime paste and wrap it into a quid around a slice of areca nut and selected spices, before chewing the contents.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Burma
Inscription
(a) incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on side of box l.l.:
incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on side of box l.r.:
(b) incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) in ten cartouches on top of box:
incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on front side of lid u.c.:
incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on back side of lid u.c.:
(c) incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on side of tray c.:
(d) incised in yellow lacquer (in Burmese script) on base of tray c.:
Accession Number
2012.49.a-d
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Physical description
Lacquered betel box with lid and two trays (Kun-it), decorated with incised 'signs of the zodiac' pattern (yathi-yok) and 'animals of the 8 days of the week' pattern (gyo shit myo) in black outlined rectangular cartouches against a background of cross hatching (pan-bwa design) with a peacock in the centre of the lid, black ground, red/orange, green and yellow design.