This betel nut ponder cylinder is decorated with is decorated with niello, a black mixture of copper, silver, and lead sulphides, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal. It can be used for filling in designs cut from metal.The betel nut pounders were usually used by old people with weak teeth or who had lost their teeth. It was shaped like a small cylinder and had a pounder ending in a sharp cutter which crushed the betel nut against the bottom. The base of the cylinder was usually removable so the crushed nut could be taken out.
