Areca nut cutters (kacip), gold-mounted iron, Perak, Malaysia, 19th century

Areca nut cutters with iron blades, stylised bird-shaped head and handgrips mounted with gold, which is set with rubies and ornamented with filigree work.

Bequeathed by E.S. Wilkinson

IS.250 to 451-1950 and IS.1 to 7-1952, came from the collection of Mr. Richard James Wilkinson (1867-1941), who was formerly Deputy Governor of the Straits Settlement (1911 to 1916) and later Governor of Sierra Leone (1916-1922). He had acquired a collection of mostly Malay silverware and goldware, niello work, arms, etc. in Singapore and the Federated Malay States, which on 23 June 1919 was lent to the Indian Section of the V&A with the possibility of later making a bequest. A second loan of Malay brasswork followed on 31 October 1921. A total of 209 pieces were finally bequeathed to the V&A on 26 October 1950 following the death of his widow, Mrs Edith Sinclair Wilkinson.

This pair of shears with a stylised bird-shaped head, is for slicing areca nuts. Although the habit of betel chewing had rapidly declined in the Malay world by the mid 20th century, iron areca nut cutters are still in use today for their power, according to local tradition, in warding off evil spirits. The shears are usually placed above the head of a new-born baby for protection.

IS.318-1950