The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Dark-brown wood spatula with an elongated, smooth, teardrop-shape while a thicker upper half features a handle with carved designs and a stylized face in profile on top. The face has a smooth, round top of the head and, below, spiral designs, a rectangular block filled with blocky, interlocking "S" shapes, and then two, curling "S" shapes flanking the shaft of the spatula.

Lime Spatula

before 1930

Melanesia, New Guinea, Massim Area, Trobriand Islands, 20th century

wood
Overall: 32.7 cm (12 7/8 in.)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Munro 1971.153
Location: Not on view

Description

Intricately carved spatulas (chunum) were used to remove a mixture of areca nut, lime, and betel pepper from gourd containers for chewing. The stylized human face and figure are decorated with lime-filled incised designs.
  • Year in Review: 1971. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 28, 1971-February 6, 1972).
  • {{cite web|title=Lime Spatula|url=false|author=|year=before 1930|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.153