Chimú Copper Alloy Depilatory Tweezers

Pre-Columbian Era, Chimú Culture, c. 800-1470 AD, Moche Valley, Trujillo, Peru

This fabulous pair of tweezers, crafted from copper alloy, with a pair of coiled spirals to the sides. reflects the Chimú civilization’s meticulous personal grooming practices and their deep-rooted beliefs in the afterlife. Finely made and expertly shaped, these tweezers would have been included in a mummy bundle as an essential tool to serve the deceased beyond death.

In the Chimú culture, personal adornment and hygiene were highly valued, with depilatory tweezers commonly used for hair removal—a practice associated with both ritual purification and elite status. Metal tweezers like these were a mark of prestige, often carried by the nobility and religious figures. Their inclusion in funerary offerings underscores their importance in both life and the journey into the next world.

An exceptionally rare and well-preserved artifact, these tweezers provide a fascinating glimpse into ancient Andean grooming customs, ritual traditions, and metalworking craftsmanship—an exquisite addition to any collection of pre-Columbian artifacts.

Excellent condition. Wear commensurate with age and use. Green surface patina and encrusted mineral deposits. Size approx. 2,9cm x 1,9cm x 0,8cm.

Provenance: From the estate of Paul Ragnar Wedendal Sr. & Paul Wedendal Jr. Collected in the 1940's to 1950's.

For a similar examples see:

Depilatory forceps, Science Museum Group, Accession number: A113992 (https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co104205/depilatory-forceps-depilatory-tweezers.)