Title
Spittoon
Year/Period
c. 1930
Region
Malay Peninsula
Dimension
Object size: H10.7x Dia12.9cm
Accession No.
XXXX-03147
Collection of
This spittoon has a wide mouth, a bulbous body and a handle. It is undecorated which suggests that the emphasis was more on the functional shape of the object rather that then on the decorative pattern. Spittoons, such as this one, were essential paraphernalia of Malay households because of the habit of chewing betel, the nut of the areca palm tree. Chewing it with lime and other ingredients stimulate the production of red spittle that needed to be disposed of.
