**Originally Listed At $300**

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, ca. mid 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden spatula with a slender form used for gathering powdered lime from burnt shell and coral remains and preparing it for consumption. The spatula is comprised of an elongated spatula body, a thin neck, and a rectangular handle detailed with a pair of incised abstract parabolic forms. A small strand of currency beads is secured to the top of the handle, in hues of gold, crimson, citrine, espresso, periwinkle, and white, adding an element of color to the otherwise monochromatic tool. Betel chewing has been practiced throughout Indonesia, Oceania, and India for centuries. Lime powder is an essential ingredient in betel chewing and is combined orally with leaves from a betel-pepper plant and crushed areca nuts to produce an intoxicating mixture. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 8.375" H (21.3 cm); 9.25" H (23.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133453

Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use as shown, small nicks and expected smoothness to spatula faces, light discoloration to currency beads, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits within recessed areas, and nice brown patina throughout.