人形石灰容器 - 美国大都会艺术博物馆展品查阅

品名（中）	人形石灰容器
品名（英）	Anthropomorphic Lime Container
入馆年号	2000年，2000.284.44
策展部门	亚洲艺术（Asian Art）
创作者
创作年份	公元前 510 - 公元 310
创作地区
分类	金属制品（Metalwork）
尺寸	高 6 1/2 英寸 (16.5 厘米)
介绍（中）	这些有趣的拟人化血管的功能通过其内部的生石灰痕迹而清晰可见。除了勺子和其他与槟榔制备相关的用具外，像这样的容器是在爪哇西北部拉马詹海滩上发现的大量表面容器的一部分。在整个南亚和东南亚，槟榔植物（一种胡椒）的叶子被包裹在石灰和槟榔仁的混合物中咀嚼。生石灰是一种天然抗酸剂，这种混合物既能起到刺激作用，又能起到滋补作用嚼槟榔的做法究竟从什么时候开始还不清楚。然而，一个有趣的早期参考文献是司马迁在公元前一世纪写的《史记》。这部不朽的作品的第116章描述了生活在中国西南和东南部的非汉族人的外表和活动。其中包括一种被称为菊姜的物质的讨论，这种物质被认为是槟榔，从西南部的四川省运到东南部。最近在越南的研究也指出，槟榔在东南亚大陆的早期使用这个容器有一个装饰在脚和肩上的圆柱形主体，还有一个盖子，盖子上有一个做成人形头部的把手。耳朵和头发被描绘成一系列垂直线的建议是设计的一部分。
介绍（英）	The function of these amusingly anthropomorphic vessels is made clear by traces of quicklime in their interiors. Along with spoons and other paraphernalia associated with the preparation of betel (areca) nuts, containers like these were part of an extensive surface find on the beach at Lamajang in northwestern Java. Throughout South and Southeast Asia the leaves of the betel plant, a type of pepper, are wrapped around a mixture of lime and the seed kernel of the betel palm and chewed. Quicklime is a natural antacid, and the concoction provides both a stimulant and a tonic. It is not known precisely when the practice of chewing betel began. An intriguing early reference, however, is found in the Chinese Shiji (Historical Records) written by Sima Qian during the first century B.C. Chapter 116 of this monumental work describes the appearance and activities of the non-Han people living in southwestern and southeastern China. It includes a discussion of a substance known as jujiang, thought to be betel nuts, which was transported from the southwestern province of Sichuan to the southeast. Recent reasearch in Vietnam also points to the early use of betel in mainland Southeast Asia. This container has a cylindrical body ornamented at the foot and shoulder and a lid with a handle fashioned as a humanoid head. Suggestions of ears and hair depicted as a series of vertical lines are part of the design.