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Betel-Nut Cutter

Indian (Artist)
16th century
brass
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)

The betel nut is actually a berry (the fruit of the areca palm) that, especially in its dried form, was and is today widely chewed throughout Asia for its narcotic effect. A special type of scissors was developed to cut the dried berry. This example consists of a richly engraved horseshoe-shaped loop with a broad cutter and tapering round handles terminating in knobs.

Portuguese traders began importing betel nuts into Europe in the 1500s, but they never caught on as did tea and coffee.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Lockwood de Forest Sale, American Art Association, 1922, no. 69; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1922, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
5/25/2017 Treatment cleaned
5/25/2017 Treatment Surface cleaned with solvents to remove dirt and grime.
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Geographies

India (Place of Origin)

Measurements

L: 8 9/16 × W: 3 1/2 × D: 13/16 in. (21.8 × 8.9 × 2 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1922

Location in Museum

Charles Street: Second Floor: Chamber of Wonders

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

54.570

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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