Koftgari Sarota - Betel Nut Cutter from Rajasthan - 19th Century Wucai Porcelain Hand made in small workshops

Hand made in small workshops in Rajasthan

This unusual chest is from the Chinese province of Gansu

The word 'suzani' derives from the Farsi word for 'needle' and involves highly skilled wonderful silk embroidery

Three peacocks sit atop the mirror as good luck and the detailed carving signifies this Indian mirror as originating from Andhra Pradesh in South India

chewed for its stimulant and mildly psychoactive effects

Koftgari Sarota - Betel Nut Cutter from Rajasthan - 19th Century Wucai Porcelain Hand made in small workshopsThis antique Indian sarota, or betelnut cutter is a cross between scissors and nutcrackers. It is an excellent example of quality workmanship on a utility item. The frame is inlaid with silver using a technique called bidriwork (called koftgari work in India) and it is hinged with a brass pin. Sarotas are used to shave slivers from the areca (betel) nut which was then mixed with spices and wrapped in betel leaves to make paan. Paan was a stimulant