Intersections

Sealed with a “Quid”

A slice of areca nut and a dab of slaked lime, rolled inside a betel leaf—these are the basic ingredients of the betel quid chewed by millions of people in Asia and the Pacific. Betel is a mild stimulant, activated by chewing these ingredients together. Its social meanings are myriad. It may be prepared by a lover, exchanged with in-laws to propose a marriage, extended in welcome to friends or enemies, or accepted as a sign of deference to authority. The care and the precious materials invested in making the beautiful implements used to prepare betel—including areca nut cutters, mortars, and lime spatulas—are testimony to the importance of all things sealed with a quid.

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    X65.7769 Lime spatula

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    Lime spatula
    Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
    19th-20th century
    Wood and lime
    L: 29.0 cm, W: 3.5 cm, D: .50 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 1.3 in, D: .19 in)
    Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7769

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    X65.7770 Lime spatula

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    Object Name: Lime spatula

    Artist: Unknown

    Place of Origin: Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea

    Date: 19th-20th century

    Dimensions: L: 28.00 cm, W: 8.00 cm, D: 1.50 cm

    Materials Used: Wood

    Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7770

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    X65.7774 Lime spatula

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    Lime spatula
    Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
    19th-20th century
    Wood
    L: 34.5 cm, W: 3.0 cm (L: 13.5 in, W: 1.1 in)
    Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7774

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    X65.7775 Lime spatula

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    Lime spatula
    Trobirand Islands, Papua New Guinea
    19th-20th century
    Wood, cotton thread, shells, bead
    L: 29.0 cm, W: 3.0 cm, D: 3.5 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 1.2 in, D: 1.4 in)
    Gift of the Wellcome Trust. X65.7775

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    X94.24.13 Pestle for a betel mortar

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    Pestle for a betel mortar
    Indonesia
    Horn and iron
    20th century
    L: 25.0 cm, W: 3.5 cm, D: 5.0 cm (L: 9.8 in, W: 1.3 in, D: 1.9 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum Purchase. X94.24.13

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    X95.38.100 Areca nut cutter, dragon

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    Areca nut cutter, dragon
    Southern China
    Steel, buffalo horn, rattan
    19th-20th century
    L: 16.5 cm, W: 10.0 cm, H: 3.0 cm (L: 6.4 in, W: 3.9 in, H: 1.1 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.100

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    X95.38.155 Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a stag

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    Object Name: Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a stag

    Artist: Unknown

    Culture: Javanese peoples

    Place of Origin: North Coast of Java, Indonesia

    Date/Era: 19th to 20th century

    Medium/Materials: Iron, silver

    Dimensions: L: 27.6 cm, W: 13.0 cm, H: 2.8 cm (L: 10.8 in, W: 5.1 in, H: 1.1 in)

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg.

    Accession Number: X95.38.155

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    X95.38.157 Areca nut cutter, the warrior Arjuna

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    Areca nut cutter, the warrior Arjuna
    North Coast of Java, Indonesia
    Iron and silver
    19th-20th century
    L: 29.0 cm, W: 8.5 cm, H: 1.3 cm (L: 11.4 in, W: 3.3 in, H: .51 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.157

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    X95.38.177 Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a mythical lion (singha)

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    Object Name: Areca nut cutter (kacip) in the form of a mythical lion (singha)

    Artist: Unknown

    Culture: Balinese peoples

    Place of Origin: Bali, Indonesia

    Date/Era: 19th century

    Medium/Materials: Iron, gold, quartz

    Dimensions: L: 21.2 cm, W: 9.6 cm, H: 3.0 cm (L: 8.3 in, W: 3.7 in, H: 1.1 in)

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg.

    Accession Number: X95.38.177

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    X95.38.207a,b Betel mortar

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    Object Name: Betel mortar

    Artist: Unknown

    Place of Origin: Lombok, Indonesia

    Date: 19th-20th century

    Dimensions: L: 16.50 cm, W: 3.20 cm, H: 3.70 cm

    Materials Used: Horn, iron, brass, wood

    Credit Line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.207a,b

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    X95.38.36 Areca nut cutter, elephant

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    Areca nut cutter, elephant
    Bengal, India
    Silver and glass
    Early 20th century
    L: 13.3 cm, W: 5.5 cm, H: .80 cm (L: 5.2 in, W: 2.1 in, H: .31 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.36

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    X95.38.57 Areca nut cutter, saluki hound

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    Areca nut cutter, saluki hound
    Golconda, Andhra Pradesh, India
    Iron and brass
    16th-17th century
    L: 22.5 cm, W: 8.5 cm, H: 1.5 cm (L: 8.8 in, W: 3.3 in, H: .59 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.57

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    X95.38.75 Areca nut cutter, pair of lovers

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    Areca nut cutter, pair of lovers
    Tamil Nadu, India
    Brass
    16th-17th century
    L: 16.0 cm, W: 10.5 cm, H: 4.0 cm (L: 6.2 in, W: 4.1 in, H: 1.5 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.75

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    X95.38.93 Areca nut cutter, mythical creature

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    Areca nut cutter, mythical creature
    Kandy, Sri Lanka
    Silvered brass
    19th-20th century
    L: 21.5 cm, W: 9.0 cm, H: 2.5 cm (L: 8.4 in, W: 3.5 in, H: .98 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.93

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