Title
Spatula
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
China
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: H6 x W0.6 x D0.2cm
Accession No.
2009-00011
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. S. Rajaratnam
This silver spatula could have been part of the “tepak sirih”, which is a circular or rectangular tray divided in two by an L-shaped partition to hold items used for betel nut chewing. The smaller partition held a pestle and mortar and a pair of iron betel cutters. There was also a drawer at the base of the rectangular tray to hold the betel leaves. In the circular tray, betel leaves were usually placed in a cylindrical container with sloping sides. A spittoon was also placed near the betel tray.
