LIME STICK, SOLOMON ISLANDS

The practice of betel chewing is widespread throughout Indonesia and Melanesia.  According to Wardwell (1994: 36), the "necessary ingredients are areca palm seeds, popularly called 'betel nuts,' fruit or leaves from the betel plant, and lime obtained from burnt coral.  The areca palm seeds are crushed into mortars with pestels, and the paste is then spread on the betel fruit or leaves, mixed with lime and then chewed. The chewing of this mixture is mildly stimulating [... and the effect used in divination and rituals].  The paraphernalia associated with this practice includes a decorated gourd or bamboo container to hold the lime and a stick or spatula with which to remove the lime from the container and to use as a utensil for eating the paste.  Although primarily utensils, some lime sticks and spatulas are extremely well made and are among the finest miniature carvings from Melanesia."

This magnificent lime stick relates closely to another one with single figure, also previously in the Hooper Collection (Hooper accession no. "1178", published in Phelps (1976: p. 252, pl. 147, cat. 1178).  Phelps (1976: 436, text to cat. 1178 and 1179) attributes both to the south-eastern part of the Solomon Islands.  The spiritual function of the use of the drug is manifest in the form of the attachments, glass beads and dog teeth, which hint to the the animal world and faraway countries as the realm of ancestors and spirits.