Scale Balance with Birds
| Culture | Chimú |
|---|---|
| Title | Scale Balance with Birds |
| Date | 9th–late 15th century |
| Medium | Bone with pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 11/16 × 4 1/2 in. (1.7 × 11.4 cm) Overall: 11/16 × 4 1/2 in. (1.7 × 11.4 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 72.21.5 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
A scale balance with two abstract birds on either side (four birds in total) of the central balance point, a stepped motif. The remains of black paint can be found in the incised areas of the eyes, and red paint in the incised areas of the beak and on the sides of the central stepped motif.
Functioning as the central beam of a scale, this carved bone depicts birds in a symmetrical design. This balance in design reflects the balance needed for the scale to function properly.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Scale Balance with Birds | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=72.21.5