Loading

Betel nut cutter in the shape of a bird

1700-1900

Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, United States

Betal leaf eating has great significance in wedding rituals of most provinces of India. Folded betal leaf containing lime, catechu, aseca nut, cloves, cardamom, ect. are distributed at the wedding parties. There are thirteen ingredients to be eaten with betal leaf, ie. bitterness, pungency, heat, saltiness, astingent flavor, properties against gas, sceptic and phlegm and capacity to stimulate eros, to lend beauty to the mouth and purify it, to destroy fous odor. Azeca nut, slightly narcotic in chraracter is a fruit of the areca palm which grows in the vast coastal areas of India. It is consumed either with betal leaf (tambula) or independant of it. Most nut crackers are cast or forged in brass or iron except a few in silver.
Nut crackers are used to crack dried hard nut to pieces to required sizes. For curring the nut, it is placed between the two blades and holders pressed. Small or ordinary nut crackers are called "sudi" and big ones "sudo".

Details

  • Title: Betel nut cutter in the shape of a bird
  • Date Created: 1700-1900
  • Location Created: India
  • Physical Dimensions: H. 7 in x W. 2 in x D. 1 1/8 in, H. 17.8 cm x W. 5.1 cm x D. 2.84 cm
  • Rights: Public Domain
  • Medium: Various metals
  • Credit Line: Asian Art Museum, Gift of Mahendra Jay and Savita Jaiswal, 1991.89

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app

Interested in Crafts?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Google apps