Balance-Beam Scale Insided with Bird, Fish and Geometric Motifs
1000–1470
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
32.2 × 3.8 cm (9 1/8 × 1 1/2 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
126286
Art Historical Context
This delicate wooden balance-beam scale, crafted by the artist Ica between 1000 and 1470, exemplifies the refined woodworking traditions of pre-Columbian cultures in Americas. Measuring just 32.2 × 3.8 cm, its slender form was designed for precise weighing, likely used in trade, markets, ritual exchanges. The surface is incised with intricate motifs of birds, fish, and patterns, transforming a utilitarian object into a work of art that reflects the maker's skill in carving fine details into hardwood. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Arts of the Americas, this piece hails...