1800’s Very Rare Old Traditional Ethnic Iron Betel Areca Nut Cutter, Cracker, called Kacip (Kecil) Iron Tool with silver handles, Collected in Sumatra in the 1970's, Lion Head Motif. 19th century, Indonesia

Rare antique cutter, seen on the first photo by itself, with a lion’s head and silver handles, and seen on some of the additional photos with another tool, also listed in our sales. This is a wonderful rare antique silver and Iron Betel Nut Cutter (Kacip Kecil), from Indonesia, once belonging to royalty, and dating from the19th Century, with the powerful head of a mythical  lion as a top motif (singha):  Here, the detailing of the lion’s head, with a delicate profile, expresses the artistic vitality and detailed elegance typical of these types of important traditional instruments from the past. This traditional nut cracker or kacip, from the early 1800’s, is a very old tool made of a combination of iron and real silver, and essential to open the Betel nut. Collected in Sumatra 50 years back, it was part of our private collection. Measures around 9" long. Made of silver & iron. Museum quality. The chopper, or reather slicer, is a tool used by older people when they lose their teet