SUDI, A BETEL NUT CRACKER
Origin: Rajasthan, 18th century
Material: Bronze
A nutcracker is used to crack betel nuts which harden on ripening. Once a betel nut ripens it hardens and its surface becomes wood-like, So a cutter called ‘Sudi’ (the nutcracker) is used to cut it. Betel nuts are actually the seeds of Areca Palm which are commonly known as Betel nuts. Betel nuts are wrapped in Betel leaves (Paan), which is a very common mouth fresher throughout India. This bronze made nutcracker is designed using different iconography like that of camel and ax.