Handmade Thai Small 800 Silver Hanuman Hollow Betel Box

This little hand hammered silver box features a low relief repoussé of Hanuman, the monkey god king, on the lid, and etched floral patterns on his clothing and the sides of the snap on lid. A deeply engraved floral motif encircles the base. Stamped on the bottom is the company name PAONG followed by T-C800. We believe the 800 refers to .800 grade silver (80% pure silver). 
 
This kind of box was traditionally used to store betel nuts, a traditional stimulant. They are used these days for jewelry, stationery supplies, and other items. 
 
Worshipped as a god of strength and devotion, Hanuman symbolizes selfless service and loyalty in Hinduism. He is a key character in the Ramayana, as well as the Thai version of the epic, the Ramakien. 
 
We believe this was purchased by or gifted to our mother in Thailand in the 1970s or 1980s. It is in good vintage condition with the expected scratches and some discoloration inside the unpolished box. It could use a polishing - we were told some buyers love to do the polishing themselves…
 
H 2 1/2” x L 3 1/4” x  D 3”
Weight: 4.66 oz (132g)
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.