Abacus, c. 1800
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Huang-hua-li and t'zu-tan hardwoodexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 99.181
Not on Viewexpand_more
The Chinese abacus, a mechanical counting device, was developed about 5,000 years ago. It was built of wood and beads and could be easily carried. The form of abacus we know today appeared around 1200 a.d. and is called suan-pan. This classic type has two heads on the upper deck and five on the lower. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are possible with the abacus, and in the hands of a skilled operator, it is faster than a mechanical calculator. Made of precious hardwoods, this abacus was likely used in a large, aristocratic household for keeping financial accounts.
Details
- Title
- Abacus
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 99.181
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.