Tweezers in the Shape of a Bird c. 1000 - 1400

These tweezers in the Shape of a Bird were made by the Chimú people, likely crafted from metal through techniques of hammering and folding. The object's form is striking, its lines curvaceous, the texture warm and the surface seemingly weathered over time. The structure presents a duality: the functional tool versus the stylized representation of a bird. This form destabilizes established meanings, inviting a semiotic reading. The tweezers, a tool for grooming or ritual, are transfigured into an animal form, perhaps a symbol with layers of cultural significance. This fusion challenges our understanding of utilitarian objects, elevating them to carriers of complex cultural codes. Notice how the artist plays with the contrast between the sleek, functional part of the tool and the more decorative bird’s head. This tension is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also invites us to consider how material culture is imbued with symbolic meaning, reflecting the Chimú's understanding of the world and their place within it.