Tobacco box and lime box, Sumatra, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
Tobacco box and lime box in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number IS.299-1950), made in Sumatra, dated 19th century. The museum's brief description reads: Tobacco box and lime box set, chased silver, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 19th century. Museum description: Round tobacco box with domed lid, connected by chain with a lime box, made of silver with chased floral ornament; chased Jawi inscription on the flat bbottom of the tobacco box. The museum records it as Silver, chased, measuring Length 22 cm; Diameter 7.8 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This portable set consists of a large box to hold tobacco and a smaller one for lime paste. Incised on the tobacco box is a Jawi inscription that translates as 'This is to state that this tobacco box was made by smith Cu, from the inland regions, the amount of silver was 20 rupiahs worth and the fee for his craftsmanship was seven rupiah, the owner is Setiaman of Jepang.' Inscriptions of this kind are rarely found on Malay silverware and appear mainly in Sumatra.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Dimensions
- Length 22 cm; Diameter 7.8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Silver, chased
- Place recorded
- Sumatra
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- 'Inilah keterangan syelapa orang yang membuat tukang Cu orang darat banyak peraknya dua puluh rupiah dan lagi upahnya 7 rapiah yang punya Sitiaman orang Japang'
Identification
- Museum object name
- Tobacco box and lime box
- Museum object number
- IS.299-1950
- Museum system number
- O482243
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.