Date:31/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/31/stories/2006033118790500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ornate nut-cutters on show in city Exhibition of artistic nut-cutters

Staff Reporter

Used decades ago, they are now prized as collectors' items by art connoisseurs

LITTLE CONNOISSEURS: Students make notes after observing the ornate nut-cutters on display at the Government Museum in Egmore on Wednesday. The exhibition is open till April 2. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Artistically designed nut-cutters that were used decades ago in Tamil Nadu are on display at the Government Museum in Egmore.

The handles of the nut-cutters, used to slice areca nut for betel chewing, are in the form of animals, birds, flowers and human beings. In the museum's collection of 18 brass nut-cutters, the handles have been wrought in the shape of people, parrots, peacocks, horses and even a dragon.

"Nut-cutters were a regular item in every household in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu," says a brochure released by of the museum. The tradition of using nut-cutters continued till the early 20th century. The nut-cutters are now prized as collectors' items by art connoisseurs.