Antique Solid Brass Betel Nut Box (Kun-It/Paan Box)

A substantial and historically rich piece of Southeast Asian metalware, this antique brass box is believed to be a portable betel nut container (sometimes known as a Kun-It in Burma or Paan Box in India/Southeast Asia). Sourced from a flea market in France, this box represents a piece of colonial-era history, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, brought back to Europe from the Burmese (Myanmar) or broader Southeast Asian region.

Crafted from solid brass, the box has a pleasing weight and a simple, yet robust, rectangular design with softened, rounded corners. The metal exhibits a deep, aged, unpolished patina, testifying to its age and traditional use.

The hinged lid opens to reveal a multi-compartment interior. These compartments, covered by two smaller hinged lids, were essential for separating the key ingredients of the betel quid: the sliced areca nut, the slaked lime paste (chunam), and sometimes aromatic spices or tobacco. The shape of the dividers often facilitated ease of access while traveling.

Cultural Significance: Betel chewing was a widespread social ritual across Asia. Boxes like this were personal accessories, reflecting the owner's status and serving a practical function for preparing the quid, which was offered to guests as a gesture of hospitality.

This rare box is a perfect piece for collectors of Asian antiques, ethnographic objects, or unusual metal boxes, offering a beautiful blend of practical design and historical narrative. The box itself is in worn vintage condition, heavily patinaed on the interior, and exhibits a replacement rod within in the hinge of the lid (see listing photos). All hinges (interior and exterior are functional).

Measurements (approximate - rounded to the nearest quarter inch):
4.25 inches in length
2.5 inches in width (front to back)
2 inches in height

All sales are final so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions prior to purchase.

VINTAGE & ANTIQUE
Vintage and antique items are pre-owned and aged goods. In most cases, we do not clean or polish any items that come into our shop. Once you remove an item's traces of age and patina it's not something you can reverse, so we leave those activities up to the buyer. We try our best to describe items accurately and disclose any and all flaws and imperfections. Please refer to pictures as a visual description. We want to make sure you are happy with your purchase so, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have prior to checkout.

SHIPPING
As much as possible, we utilize recycled shipping boxes. The box you receive your item in may show signs of wear and pre-use.

PHOTOGRAPHY
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