Tidy up those piles of books with a pair of unique Cambodian Pelican Bookends. Our endearing little birds have made another outing. These bookends are part of our Nature Collection. In almost any room they will look charming on a window sill or shelf. The carving detail on the pelicans is very fine. The feathers shown in exquisite detail vary over the body of the bird. We have picked out details such as the wings, the legs, eye and the beak in antiqued silver leaf. Finally we have added a pair of silver books to make the bookends practical and elegant.
The story of the betal box is interesting. They were used for many centuries to store betel quid. Southeast Asians enjoyed chewing this paste Asians during social functions and court ceremonies as a mild narcotic. Although the exact preparation varies across countries and cultures, the quid is usually a mixture of slaked lime, a betel leaf and flavorings such as cardamom, cinnamon and tobacco. The original box shaped as a pelican would have separated into a lid and a base. This sculpture does not open.
These Cambodian Pelican bookends also make a wonderful and unique birthday, Christmas or wedding gift present. Furthermore they look gorgeous on our shagreen console tables.