Carved Bamboo Container with Fitted Lid | Incised Geometric Design | Circa 19th Century

$150.00
$150.00
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Antique carved bamboo container from Island Southeast Asia, 19th century, cylindrical with fitted lid and base, decorated with incised geometric patterns darkened with pigment, traditionally used for betel nut lime storage, photographed on a white background.
19th-century Southeast Asian carved bamboo container with geometric incised patterns
Cylindrical antique bamboo lime container with fitted lid and base, Island Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian betel nut container carved from bamboo, decorated with darkened motifs
Antique Island Southeast Asian bamboo container with incised geometric decoration
Traditional 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime vessel with fitted lid and base
Carved bamboo storage container from Island Southeast Asia, photographed on white background
Antique 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime container from Island Southeast Asia
Carved bamboo cylindrical container with lid, Southeast Asian traditional storage vessel
Island Southeast Asian bamboo lime container with geometric pigment-darkened carvings
Traditional Southeast Asian carved bamboo betel container on white background
  • Antique carved bamboo container from Island Southeast Asia, 19th century, cylindrical with fitted lid and base, decorated with incised geometric patterns darkened with pigment, traditionally used for betel nut lime storage, photographed on a white background.
  • 19th-century Southeast Asian carved bamboo container with geometric incised patterns
  • Cylindrical antique bamboo lime container with fitted lid and base, Island Southeast Asia
  • Southeast Asian betel nut container carved from bamboo, decorated with darkened motifs
  • Antique Island Southeast Asian bamboo container with incised geometric decoration
  • Traditional 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime vessel with fitted lid and base
  • Carved bamboo storage container from Island Southeast Asia, photographed on white background
  • Antique 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime container from Island Southeast Asia
  • Carved bamboo cylindrical container with lid, Southeast Asian traditional storage vessel
  • Island Southeast Asian bamboo lime container with geometric pigment-darkened carvings
  • Traditional Southeast Asian carved bamboo betel container on white background
Antique carved bamboo container from Island Southeast Asia, 19th century, cylindrical with fitted lid and base, decorated with incised geometric patterns darkened with pigment, traditionally used for betel nut lime storage, photographed on a white background.
19th-century Southeast Asian carved bamboo container with geometric incised patterns
Cylindrical antique bamboo lime container with fitted lid and base, Island Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian betel nut container carved from bamboo, decorated with darkened motifs
Antique Island Southeast Asian bamboo container with incised geometric decoration
Traditional 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime vessel with fitted lid and base
Carved bamboo storage container from Island Southeast Asia, photographed on white background
Antique 19th-century bamboo betel nut lime container from Island Southeast Asia
Carved bamboo cylindrical container with lid, Southeast Asian traditional storage vessel
Island Southeast Asian bamboo lime container with geometric pigment-darkened carvings
Traditional Southeast Asian carved bamboo betel container on white background

Carved Bamboo Container with Fitted Lid | Incised Geometric Design | Circa 19th Century

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Island Southeast Asia (likely Borneo/Dayak or Timor, possibly Papua New Guinea)
Material: Carved bamboo with fitted lid, incised decoration darkened with pigment
Period: 19th Century

Description
This elegant carved bamboo container is a fine example of Southeast Asian ritual craftsmanship. Cylindrical in form and retaining both its fitted lid and base, the vessel is decorated throughout with precisely incised geometric motifs — including zigzags, diamonds, and cross-hatched panels — which have been darkened with pigment to enhance their visual impact. Such containers were commonly used to store powdered lime for betel nut chewing, though similar forms also held tobacco or medicinal substances. The piece’s completeness, with both lid and base preserved, makes it a particularly rare survival.

Features

- Complete bamboo container with original lid and base

- Intricate incised geometric designs darkened with pigment

- Likely used as a lime container for betel nut chewing, or for tobacco/medicine

- Strong parallels to Dayak, Timorese, and Melanesian bamboo carving traditions

- Retains patina of age with interior traces of original use

Cultural Significance
Carved bamboo containers were essential in both daily life and ritual across Island Southeast Asia and Melanesia. Beyond their practical role, the incised motifs often carried symbolic meaning, transforming utilitarian vessels into objects of status, identity, and spiritual significance. Complete examples with lids are comparatively rare and are now highly collectible as ethnographic art.

Condition
Excellent overall condition with light surface wear and natural patina. Incised decoration remains crisp and well-defined. Both lid and base intact and fitting securely.

Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 5 in
Diameter: 2 in

Age
19th Century

Learn More 

See a comparable museum example at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Carved Bamboo Container

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Island Southeast Asia (likely Borneo/Dayak or Timor, possibly Papua New Guinea)
Material: Carved bamboo with fitted lid, incised decoration darkened with pigment
Period: 19th Century

Description
This elegant carved bamboo container is a fine example of Southeast Asian ritual craftsmanship. Cylindrical in form and retaining both its fitted lid and base, the vessel is decorated throughout with precisely incised geometric motifs — including zigzags, diamonds, and cross-hatched panels — which have been darkened with pigment to enhance their visual impact. Such containers were commonly used to store powdered lime for betel nut chewing, though similar forms also held tobacco or medicinal substances. The piece’s completeness, with both lid and base preserved, makes it a particularly rare survival.

Features

- Complete bamboo container with original lid and base

- Intricate incised geometric designs darkened with pigment

- Likely used as a lime container for betel nut chewing, or for tobacco/medicine

- Strong parallels to Dayak, Timorese, and Melanesian bamboo carving traditions

- Retains patina of age with interior traces of original use

Cultural Significance
Carved bamboo containers were essential in both daily life and ritual across Island Southeast Asia and Melanesia. Beyond their practical role, the incised motifs often carried symbolic meaning, transforming utilitarian vessels into objects of status, identity, and spiritual significance. Complete examples with lids are comparatively rare and are now highly collectible as ethnographic art.

Condition
Excellent overall condition with light surface wear and natural patina. Incised decoration remains crisp and well-defined. Both lid and base intact and fitting securely.

Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 5 in
Diameter: 2 in

Age
19th Century

Learn More 

See a comparable museum example at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Carved Bamboo Container

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