Chinese Export Silver Foo Dog Large Box 1890

Chinese Export silver figural foo dog large box, c.1890. Unmarked but guaranteed to be as represented. This beautiful box is 6" long, 3 1/2" wide, 4 3/4" tall and weighs 289 grams or 9.3 ozs Troy. The boxes were used to hold the leaves and other ingredients necessary to assemble a quid of betel, a mild stimulant used for centuries throughout Southeast Asia. Because such silver boxes were highly valued by their owners, they were carefully handled and typically remain in good condition.