Name of Object:

Pearl Trader’s Scales Box

Location:

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

Holding Institution:

Sharjah Maritime Museum / Sharjah Museums Department

 About Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah

Date of Object:

Hegira late 13th – early 14th century / AD late 19th – early 20th century

Author:

Unknown

Inventory Number:

SM2004-729

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Wood

Provenance:

Sharjah Emirate

Description:

This wooden box was designed to contain a sophisticated scales set, which incorporated both a large balance and bowls for weighing quantities of pearls and a smaller version, with several, graded weighing bowls for smaller quantities. The weighing systems for pearls was complex and highly sophisticated to allow for the accurate assessment of mixed batches of pearls of varying sizes and quality. The largest and most valuable pearls were separated and assessed individually. The other pearls would be passed through graded sieves and separated into three batches of specific size. Apart from the very best items, pearls from these batches were sold by weight.

Type of Object

Wooden box for scales

Citation of this web page:

Ulrike al-Khamis "Pearl Trader’s Scales Box" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;ua;40;en

Prepared by: Ulrike Al-Khamis

MWNF Working Number: UA 041