Nut Cutter in the Form of a Praying Woman

This elegant and finely crafted betel nut cutter is in the form of a lady with her hands in prayer before her chest. Her head and neck bend toward her hands. Her legs, the handles of the cutters, point behind her body as if she is stretched out in flight. Incised lines define strands of her pulled back hair, and there are additional incised, chased, and molded details that suggest the patterns of the clothing she wears. Betel is a stimulant that humans have used for thousands of years. Betel refers to a leaf that is chewed together with areca nut and often also in combination with tobacco and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) to increase absorption of the stimulants into the bloodstream. Cutters are used to cut the areca nut. To create betel, thin slices of the nut of the areca palm are mixed with spices and lime paste and wrapped in a leaf of the betel tree to create a small package or “quid”. In South and Southeast Asian betel nut cutters are among the functional metalwork objects craftspeople have created through the ages. While the function and form of the blade tends to be similar across cultures, there are artistic elements that tie them to specific regions and systems of belief. This piece exemplifies the bold aesthetic specific to 19th century South India with the addition of decorative detail and a whimsical form.

Provenance

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

Sale, Wooley & Wallis, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, December 15 2021, lot 942; purchased by Runjeet Singh, United Kingdom, 2021; purchased by Walters Art Museum, 2023.