The Testimony of Hands

57.5.23

57.5.23, scraper of Spondylus (thorny oyster) shell
Preconquest Peru (pre-A.D. 1530s)
Watt Stewart collection
Photograph by B. Bernard

"Scrapers" were used for a variety of purposes, such as removing and processing hides and smoothing wood. A small scraper such as this one (it is 4 centimeters or 1 1/2 inches long) would have been for finer work. Clearly, someone wanted to have a tool that was beautiful as well as functional. Anyone who has lost track of time in a hardware store will understand.

The next picture gives a better sense of the chisel-like shape of the scraper.

57.5.23

Photograph by B. Bernard

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