© Sharjah Museums Authority © Sharjah Museums Authority


Name of Object:

Pearling Scales Case

Location:

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

Holding Institution:

Sharjah Maritime Museum / Sharjah Museums Department

 About Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah

Date of Object:

Hegira 1280 / AD 1863

Author:

Unknown

Inventory Number:

SM2007-182

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Copper alloy

Dimensions:

Length 105 mm, depth 50 mm

Provenance:

Sharjah Emirate

Description:

Pearling scales were an essential tool for any pearl merchant. All aspects of a pearl’s physical appearance – its shape, hue, perfection, size and indeed weight all determined its value and saleability. This copper alloy case for pearling scales is of the characteristic type common in the pearling industry throughout the Gulf. It combines a very slightly pointed, circular section designed to receive the two small bowls of the scales, with a narrow elongated section to contain the balance, with the scales's strings carefully wound around it for storage. This example is particularly interesting in that it appears to give the name of the merchant and the date 1280 H/ 1863 AD.

Citation of this web page:

Ulrike al-Khamis "Pearling Scales Case" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;ua;39;en

Prepared by: Ulrike Al-Khamis

MWNF Working Number: UA 040

Related Content

 Timeline for this item


On display in

Sharing History Exhibition(s)

Economy And Trade | Commodities | Raw Materials

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