Mindanao Islamic Philippines Betel Box

Silver-Inlaid Brass Betel Box (Lutuan)

Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this larger-than-usual example. Such boxes were used to show off to household visitors and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid.

The box comprises an outer box with a hinged lid and handles, and an inner box that is divided into three lidded compartments. Both the inner and outer boxes rest on Philippines’ coins as ‘wheels’ (although some of these are recent replacements).

The outer box is decorated with silver inlay on all visible sides with a repeated stylised orchid motif within scrolling

obid-obid (stylised rope) borders.

The inner box is decorated all over with the stylised tail feathers of the

sari-manok bird. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving.

This

lutuan represents a fine and large example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. It is in excellent condition with no losses to the silverwork. Evidence of use remains inside the lidded chambers.

Smaller examples are illustrated in several books including Henkel

et al (2009, p. 156). Lutuan tell an interesting story of the spread of Islam and Islamic crafts. The silver inlay work shown on this box originated n Syria. The function originated in India. But the craftsmen were based in the Islamic southern Philippines. Boxes of this type were then exported from the Philippines to other Islamic communities, most notably to Afghanistan and the Maghreb, where often, locals assumed that such boxes were locally made.

Rooney, D.F., Betel Chewing Traditions in South-East Asia, Oxford University Press, 1993; Fraser-Lu, S., Silverware of South-East Asia, Oxford University Press, 1989; Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters from the Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Thames & Hudson, 1992; and Henkel, D. et al, Land of the Morning: The Philippines and its People, Asian Civilisations Museum, 2009.