Khmer Bronze Lime Bronze Container 5"

These containers are used in Cambodia to store the lime added when chewing betel nuts. Betel and spices are added together with the lime to produce a mildly intoxicating combination which is chewed by the local people. This exquisite piece is made of high quality heavy bronze metal made by the lost wax method. The shape and design is unique to Cambodia. The rich brown patina is beautiful.

This statue is from the private collection of Matthew Friedman. Matthew has lived and worked in Asia for the past twenty five years. During this period, he was posted as a diplomat for the US Government (USAID) and the United Nations in Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand. Friedman has written three books related to Asian art: one book on traditional metal casting techniques in Bangladesh, and two books profiling traditional brass and bronze antiques from Nepal. Over a twenty year period, Friedman has amassed a large collective of brass and bronze items from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Laos. Friedman periodically presents at museum and art society events on the topic of how the lost wax method is used to make traditional Buddhist and Hindu statues. This statue was purchased from antique dealers in Dhaka, Bangladesh where Matthew was the head of USAID.

Matt Friedman is a focused on raising awareness on human trafficking in the world and has given 2 TED talks on the subject. View the most recent TED talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUR_yFYDtOo