Lime spatula

A wooden lime spatula with a flat dipping end and the upper half carved in the shape of the upper part of a humanoid body. The figure wears reddish-orange shell discs in its ears and around its neck. In Papua New Guinea people use spatulas to dip powdered lime out of a pot to chew with betel nut. They also trade them in the 'kula' ritual exchange system, along with wooden bowls, baskets and combs. This one is an old, finely carved example of a spatula in human shape, from a missionary collection.