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THBBalinese Steel & Brass Betel Nut Cracker - Parrot Form
Lot 39c
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$500 - $800
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| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
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| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Bali or Lombok, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. This early to mid 20th century Balinese betel nut cracker is crafted from carbon steel in the elegant form of a parrot, its head and beak rendered with stylized detailing and a brass eye inset on each side. The curved beak-like jaws are functional as well as symbolic, designed to split the hard areca nut used in the traditional preparation of betel quid. The parrot motif is a fitting choice, as birds often appear in Southeast Asian decorative arts as symbols of refinement, beauty, and lively conversation - qualities closely tied to the social ritual of betel chewing. Size: 6.2" L x 1.7" W (15.7 cm x 4.3 cm)
Betel nut chewing has long been a cherished custom across much of Southeast Asia, where it serves both as a mild stimulant and a marker of hospitality. In Bali, the practice was interwoven with social etiquette, ceremonial gatherings, and daily life. Tools such as this one were personal possessions, often kept as valued household items and reflecting the skill of local metalworkers. The textured surface, graceful curves, and avian silhouette of this example speak to the harmonious blending of utility and artistry in Balinese craft traditions.
Exhibited: May 13 to July 9, 2022 "" exhibition, as part of the Hands-On Curatorial Program at Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, gifted to Rachel de W. Wixom ca. 2015-2016
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#196196Weathering to surface with nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Some chips to brass and slight loosening to hinge, but, otherwise, intact and very nice with rich patina.Condition
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