Areca nut cutter

Representation of a figure carrying a child. On one side the large figure appears as a moustachioed warrior, on the other as a woman.
Tamil Nadu
Brass, iron
21 cm

These hinged one-bladed instruments in the form of tongs were used to cut slices of areca nut used for the preparation of betel, a stimulant like tobacco, which is chewed in many societies in South and Southeast Asia. The basic ingredients of betel are areca nut, betel leaf and lime paste, usually made from chark, coral or shells. These tongs are mostly found in countries and regions that have been influenced by Indian culture.