Description:

South Asia, India, 19th century CE. An antique brass betel nut cutter in the form of a peacock with hinged articulated wings, wonderful incised detailing, and numerous bells suspended from it. This unusual tool was used for cutting open the betel nut (actually the areca nut). Chewing on this nut yields similar effects to chewing tobacco, and this practice was immensely popular from the 17th century to 19th century in India, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Africa. A superb example with intriguing iconography as the peacock is one of the vahanas, or sacred mounts, of Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war. Size: 6.25" L x 3.7" H (15.9 cm x 9.4 cm); 4.1" H (10.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Cavas Gobhai collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA assembled 1960s to 1980s

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#161308

  • Condition: Minor nicks to handles and some cutter components, with chips and light oxidation to iron blade, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout. Hinged handles still articulate as intended.

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January 7, 2021 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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