Indian Fine, Silver-Inlaid Betel Cutter

Most betel cutters or slicers are utilitarian and perfunctory in their manufacture and decoration, but this example is particularly fine. It has been cast from steel, chiselled and pierced and inlaid with silver.

This example has a ‘guillotine’ form whereby the blade moves within a ‘D’-shaped frame. The blade is decorated with a pierced flower motif, and the top of the blade and frame are all decorated with serrated edging.

Both sides, as well as the handles are inlaid with flower motifs.

Betel or paan is a mild social stimulant that was used in India and Southeast Asia by most of the population often on a daily basis and involved slicing the nut of the areca palm and adding this to a betel leaf along with slaked powdered white lime.

A related example is illustrated in Brownrigg (1992, p. 52).

The cutter is in excellent condition.