Tweezers in the Shape of a Bird
Probably 1000–1400
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H.: 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in.)
Classification
metal
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
126270
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate **Tweezers in the of a Bird**, a creation from the Chimú culture Peru's north coast, dating to around 1000–1400 AD. Fashioned entirely from gold and standing just 4.8 cm tall, this petite artifact now graces the Arts of the Americas department at the Art Institute of Chicago Its classification as a metalwork piece highlights the Chimú's extraordinary skill in transforming precious metals into functional yet artistic objects. The Chimú, who flourished before the Inca conquest, were renowned for their advanced metallurgy, often using gold to evoke the divine radiance of the ...
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...