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This finely embossed, chased and engraved tobacco box has been a rare object today ever since the existence of cigarettes. The lid and the centre bottom of the box is parcel gilt with eight carat (suasa) gold and the small octagon box which stores lime paste is attached to the tobacco box by strands of poorer quality silver chains.

Width: 8.3cm & 5cm

Height: 6.4cm & 2.5cm

Length: 24cm

Rare tobacco box (Celapa), chased and embossed with wave-liked and spiral motifs. The box is attached to a matching and smaller lime container by strands of silver chain. Tobacco boxes were personal ornaments that were carried around in a wrapped up cloth.

Width: 9.5cm & 3.2cm

Height: 5cm & 2.5cm

Length: 24cm

A humble silver tobacco box. The chain has been replaced with one of a lower silver content. It is more copper in color.

A very unique combination of tobacco and grooming set silver ornaments of the Batak people from lake Toba. The grooming set comprised of 8 tools for manicure etc. The main box keeps a preferred chewing tobacco whilst the smaller box keeps the lime paste. They are part of the ingredients for betel aka [Areca] nut chewing.This tradition is no longer in practice today. Perhaps they still do in India and some rural part of Pakistan.

This could be the main box that may have contained other smaller ones that made up a betel set. The shape of the box is typical of the Bugis people who lived in the era of hierarchy in the numerous existing sultanates. On the top of the box is decorated with a strip of 16-18 k gold measuring 7-19 cm .The box is entirely decorated with arabesque scroll pattern. Circa 19th century.

A Bugis silver with gold tobacco box. The 16-18 k gold strip measuring 2cm wide and 7 cm long is chiseled with the arabesque scroll pattern. The side of the box is covered with lozenge motif.

The last image shows the size difference of the two boxes.

A silver tobacco box with 8 grooming tools attached to beaded chains. The box contains tobacco of the owner's choice. It is one of the ingredients consumed in betel nut chewing, a rich tradition throughout South East Asia but it is no longer in demand today. It is usually wrapped in cloth to be carried around. Most household would customary offer betel nut chewing when a visitor pops in.