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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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