Lime Container with Spatula, 20th century
Unknown artist, Papua New Guineaexpand_more
Bambooexpand_more
The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fundexpand_more 96.113a,b
Not on Viewexpand_more
Betel chewing is a common practice throughout India, Indonesia, and Oceania. Frequently called betel nut, a "chew" actually consists of three components; a paste made from the crushed kernel of an areca palm nut, the fruit or leaf of the betel-pepper plant, and a quantity of powdered lime, obtained from burnt coral or shell. Often this combination takes the form of a small bite-sized package which is placed in the cheek and chewed in a manner similar to chewing tobacco.
Betel chewing is a social and personal habit, but betel is also chewed in ritual and ceremonial contexts. The use of betel in Oceania has led to the manufacture of finely decorated paraphernalia including lime containers, lime spatulas, and mortars. These objects have been considered among the finest of Melanesian carvings.
Details
- Title
- Lime Container with Spatula
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 96.113a,b
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.