The betel container is in the shape of a hintha or sacred goose with prominent wings and a tail. In Burma as in India, the sacred goose was associated with royalty or longevity.
The body of the hintha separates into two halves revealing a shallow cavity, where small quantities of betel were stored.
The offering of betel–a mildly narcotic chewing quid–was an essential element of traditional Burmese society. Every household, including the royal family’s, had a set of utensils for its preparation. Betel leaves, used to wrap the blend of areca-nut shavings, lime and spices, were stored in the container.
The hintha is standing upright with tail erect, a ball issuing from its beak, engraved with feathers to the body and scales to the head.
