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Name: Rare Oceanic Ritual Bowl
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Category: Antiquities
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Description: Era and History of Item - (I had this item valuated by Worthpoint and this is what the expert said)
"Your item is likely either a betel nut mortar or for a similar use. The manufacture indicates that this was a ritual item, and intended for an important purpose (this was not a utilitarian
item) It is not from Africa but from a cultural region of the Pacific known as Oceanic- which takes in New Guinea, Indonesia, etc. The style is more like those found in the Solomon Islands. The white inlaid material, is lime which was used to accentuate the carved designs- I would guess the age of the piece to be at least 100 years."
Scale of rarity - 4 (5 being extremely rare, 1 being common)
Replacement Value: $800
How I got it - This unique bowl was given to my great grandfather in the early 1920's by a merchant ship captain named Alexander. The bowl had obviously been used for it's intended purpose of preparing betel nut and the leaves for chewing / consumption, so I'm not sure how old it was when it was given to my great grandfather. Captain Alexander traveled all over the world and often brought back gifts for my great grandfather as my great grandfather was his accountant and he handled all of Capt. Alexanders affairs while he was at sea.
The bowl / tray measures about 14" long, 6 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" tall.
Betel nuts are the seeds of the betel nut palm, Areca catechu. It is native to Malaya but is extensively cultivated wherever the nuts are used. Chewing the betel nut can be quite a complex process. A simple and most usual method involves the use of only three ingredients: betel nuts, betel leaves and lime. Slices are cured if the nuts are not wholly ripe or ripe nuts are placed in the mouth. Then fresh leaves of the betel pepper, Piper betle, are coated with lime and chewed with the nuts. This practices always follows dinner or is done as a breath freshener. They aid the digestion and alleviate the effects of drinking water on an empty stomach.
this item is listed on EBay. Just search for
Rare Oceanic Ritual Bowl
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Condition: Good
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Selling Price (USD): $ 550.00
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Location of Item: Reno, Nevada 89502
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