A set of four late 19th / early 20th century Malay unmarked gold mounted silver lime and salve boxes, probably Lower Perak circa 1900

A set of four late 19^th / early 20^th century Malay unmarked gold mounted silver lime and salve boxes, probably Lower Perak circa 1900

Comprising three spherical boxes and one cylindrical box. The top of each with a detachable octofoil unmarked gold filigree boss. The lid with flat chased decoration of bands of trailing foliage and stylised leafy forms. (4)

Tallest – 5.5 cm / 2.2 inches

Gross weight – 217 grams / 6.98 ozt

Gold weight – 13.27 grams / 0.43 ozt

Salve boxes contained beeswax sometimes mixed with coconut oil used to keep the betel leaf chewers lips moist and to prevent the betel juice from adhering to the lips while chewing the betel quid.