Terms and conditions of use
Betel-box
(Kun-it)
(early 20th century)
- 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
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.:
Gift of John McCarthy in memory of Edwin and Margot McCarthy through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2012
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation