Betel Nut Crusher Bovine Base Wood Metal Rare Tribal Artefact West Timor

Description

TK1526: Not many of these betel nut crushers offered. When your teeth are worn down because of the corrosive effect of the lime powder that you are eating with your betel nut you get one of these made for you.

This piece has been made by master carver Bapak Ayub Kune. He has created deeply etched backward facing bird which he has worked strongly into the bone base. Then hand carved a handle with a human face on the top and made the stabber/jabber part from an old screwdriver then hand woven a lontar palm sheath/scabbard for it to sit in so that it does not stab through your betel nut bag when you are on the out and about.

Unique / Hand-carved / One of a kind / Authentic

16cm / 6.5cm tall.

120g / 4.3oz.

If you wish to gather multiple treasures, and International buyers are welcome, this website and shop cart should allow for it. If not I will contact you to find the most economical way to send your treasures to you.

International clients are welcome. Aus Post has returned the international 250gr small parcel. This is great news. YAY! A true shame that they have not done so for domestic.

Place of Lime / Betel Nut / Tobacco / Siri – TEMPAT KAPUR / KAL AU: In these humble pieces we find Timorese art at its most unaffected. The art of betel nut chewing and its accessories finds no equal when it comes to Timor. Rich in meaning and deeply embedded in its culture, the Atoni have elevated the rituals surrounding it to great heights artistically as well as ceremonially. Still made and used daily, created by hand from bamboo, bone, coconut shell, gourd, buffalo horn and wood each is a unique and original masterpiece in its own right.

I am Julie and have been collecting Timorese Treasures in the field since 1990 when I won a prize for overseas travel in a pub in Darwin [true]. I had no idea at the time that I had stumbled upon an Aladdin’s cave of authentic traditional tribal textiles and treasures. I have been returning annually ever since [well most years] and been witness to many changes across the last 3 decades. Who knows when we will be able to travel there again to obtain such treasures?

NOTE: We use recycled packaging

Clearly none of us are sure what will happen post COVID, but I do know that the villagers, carvers and weavers up in the mountains will be grateful when some outside dollars comes into their informal/circular economy. Therefore every purchase you choose to make with me will benefit the Atoni [people of West Timor] as soon as I can get back there.

I distribute reading glasses and nutritious food seeds as the soil in the western half of Timor is very poor and water a precious resource. Please contact me if you wish to contribute.