Sarota - Betel nut Cutter from Rajasthan - 19th Century Finish - Black Lacquer It is unusually polychromed

It is unusually polychromed

while traces of original lacquer and painted decoration remain visible along the edges and carved details—subtle reminders of its decorative past

developed in the Jingdezhen kilns during the Kangxi reign (1662–1722)

dates to the 19th century and represents the robust

Sarota - Betel nut Cutter from Rajasthan - 19th Century Finish - Black Lacquer It is unusually polychromedThis antique Indian sarota, or betelnut cutter is a cross between scissors and nutcrackers. They're used to shave slivers from the areca (betel) nut which was then mixed with spices and wrapped in betel leaves to make paan. Paan was a stimulant chewed for its psychoactive effects. This simple iron sarota dates to the 19th century. Many sarota were produced in Kutch, Gujarat which was a hub for production. They are fun to collect as they are so diverse