Royal Betel Set for Thai Monk

Four-Piece Senior Monk’s Yellow Enamel Betel & Drinking Set

This set of four enamel-over-copper items was produced in China, as a commission for the Thai Royal family, and possibly the King himself (in this case, probably King Chulalongkorn). The set comprises a betel box, two water kettles and a spittoon. Such sets were then presented to high-ranking Thai monks. The yellow enamel background symbolises either the Thai royal family (yellow is the colour if royalty in Southeast Asia) and also denotes the seniority of the monk such a set was commissioned for.

Enamelled copper betel and water pots were given to monks because similar items in silver and gold were forbidden for the monkhood.

The set here comprises two ewers. These were for drinking water. The betel box has a hinged lid and still retains its internal tray. The spittoon is large and of baluster form. Each item is enamelled on the outside with floral patterns against a yellow ground, and enamelled on the interiors as well.

The long betel box is of a form typically encountered in 19th century Bangkok made from mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer over wood, or in chased and repoussed silver. It has two handles, on each side. The domed lid has a pattern with a central diamond-shaped lozenge that is not unlike a Persian carpet and might well be influenced by Persian design – Persian traders were a feature in bangkok and the predecessor capital Ayutthaya, and even today, Thai incorporates several Persian loan words from this era.

The larger of the two ewers is particularly Thai in design with its pumpkin-shaped body and tiered lid terminating with a lotus-bud finial.

Several related examples of enamelled copper items are in the Smithsonian in Washington. They were part of the Siam Exhibit at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and were later presented to the United States by King Chulalongkorn. One of the items presented has a label indicating that it was made in 1868.

The Doris Duke Collection contains a enamelled copper water vessel for a senior monk (see Tingly, 2003, p. 87). The National Museum in Bangkok also has examples of this type of item (see Songsri Prapatthong, 1993, p. 100-01).

The pieces here are in fine condition. There is a small area of enamel loss on the body of one of the ewers, and to the small lock plate of the betel box. The join of the handle to one ewer also has some small (but somewhat inconsequential) loss. But otherwise, the set is in good order, particularly given the materials used.