A late 19th century Indonesian gold mounted silver tobacco box, Aceh, Sumatra

A late 19^th century Indonesian gold mounted silver tobacco box, Aceh, Sumatra

Of rectangular form with a hinged panelled domed lid raised by a shaped thumbpiece. The top of lid with a wire held chased and embossed unmarked gold plaque of three rosettes with leaves. The lid around plaque edged with a band of plum blossoms, the lid panels and sides with chased foliage, the base corned with rosettes, formally gilt. The interior with sections for holding a divider.

Length – 10.8 cm / 4.25 inches

Weight – 167 grams / 5.37 ozt

For a very similar example also with a gold plaque lid, chased with three flowers, illustrated Backman, M. (2024), Malay Silver and Gold, Courtly Splendour from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand. Bangkok: River Books Press, p.212.

Where the authors notes “the box Roth illustrates is a tobacco box from Aceh in Sumatra. It is likely, however, that such boxes were used among the Malays on the Peninsula and that they were imported from Sumatra where they were either made by Malay artisans or by Acehnese goldsmiths, who had absorbed Malay influence. Such boxes are of silver, but better examples were partly gilded, including a solid-gold plaque set into the lid, and were overlaid with suasa on each of the four corners. Accordingly among the Malay’s, such a box became known as kotak tiga mas, or “box of three golds”. Ibid 211-13.

A similar box is in the V&A collection (IS.300-1950)

A set of Malay cimbals and powder box with gold filigree bosses to the lids, were sold these rooms, 19 March 2024, lot 164 (£2375 incl. prem)