Oval-shaped Tweezers
Probably 1000–1400
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
H.: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.)
Classification
metal
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
126592
Art Historical Context
Crafted by the Chimú people of Peru's north coast, these oval-shaped tweezers exemplify the sophisticated metalworking of a culture that thrived from around 900 to 1470 CE. Dating to roughly 1000–1400, this petite copper alloy tool measures just 3.2 cm in height, highlighting the Chimú's mastery in producing finely detailed objects from humble materials. Displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the department, it reflects everyday functionality elevated to artistic precision. The Chimú, who built the vast adobe city of Chan Chan, were renowned for their advanced metallurgy, often a...
About the Artist
Chimú
The Chimú, a preeminent pre-Columbian culture of Peru's northern coast, flourished from approximately 900 to 1470 CE as the Kingdom of Chimor, emerging in the wake of the Moche civilization's decline and incorporating influences from the Sican, Wari, and Cajamarca cultures. Centered in the vast adobe metropolis of Chan Chan—the largest city in the Americas before the Inca, housing up to 60,000 peo...