Ebony Lime Spatula from the Trobriand Islands

Item BR90 

This Item Sold on 6 November 2007 for $47


Similar artifacts for sale are often found on the Asian Artifacts web page. 

Historical Pricing information for this item and similar artifacts can be found at: Historical Artifact Prices.


Betel nut is a mild stimulant that is chewed throughout the Asian continent. The almost ceremonial and habitual chewing of the betel nut usually involves four ingredients: areca nut (bunga), fresh pepper leaves (buyo), powder lime (apug), and damp tobacco leaves. Slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide) is used to release the alkaloid in the Betel Nut.

This item is a spatula that is used to take lime out of a bone or bamboo lime container. The user then licks the lime off of the spatula. The lime reacts with the chewed betel or tobacco leaf and areca nut to produce a mild high. This spatula is made out of a dark heavy wood resembling ebony. It was made in the Trobriand Islands located just east of New Guinea. There is a residual of the betel paste on the end of the spatula blade. This is a museum quality specimen and one of the better ones that you are likely to find anywhere. Length = 22 cm ; Weight = 10 gm



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