A LARGE INDIAN BRASS BETEL NUT CRACKER WITH GLASS INLAYS
Possibly Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 19th – early 20th century

This large Indian betel nut cracker expertly crafted in solid brass and embellished throughout with glass inlays of red, green, and clear hues, the inventive form modelled as a composite zoomorphic creature with articulated jaws and stylised peacock-head finials, every surface enhanced with intricate dot-and-circle patterns and beaded borders characteristic of Mughal and Rajput decorative traditions, the body set with cut and polished glass ‘jewels’, this striking example embodies the distinctive artistry of North Indian metalwork, where betel nut crackers or ‘sarota’ played an important ceremonial and social role in pan (betel) culture, and were often displayed as objects of prestige in affluent homes, the elaborate sculptural presence and vibrant polychromy of this nutcracker reflecting both technical mastery and a long-standing tradition of ornate South Asian domestic objects, accompanied by a gold-coloured metal stand.

17.5cm x 9cm