Description:

**Originally Listed At $600**

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chimu, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. A fascinating object, a petite set of wooden scales, comprised of two shallow wooden pans connected to a wooden crossbar by three thin woven strings. The surface of the crossbar is incised with a double motif of pelican-like birds. They are in two pairs, facing each other as if facing off the weight of the items on the scale. Each has an inlaid shell eye. Such small scales were probably used to weigh feathers, which may explain the bird motifs. To the Chimu, birds signified prestige. They are never anthropomorphized, but instead appear in stylized, repeated, geometric patterns. Pelicans, in particular, were thought to have the ability to dive into the world of the ancestors, and were common decorations on Chimu artwork. Imagine these scales being used in a bustling marketplace. Size: 3.3" W x 5.85" H (8.4 cm x 14.9 cm); 7.4" H (18.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Probst collection, Monterey, California, USA, acquired in the mid 1970s

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#145034

  • Condition: Strings may not be original and are slightly frayed. Excellent patina from use on the pan interiors. Beautifully preserved motifs on the crossbar.

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March 26, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000