Accession No

1038

Brief Description

Scales and weights, 2 balances in box, [Persian ?], [19th century]

Origin

Persia (?)

Maker

Class

balances

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

metal (steel, brass); wood; rope (cord)

Dimensions

box length 200mm; breadth 118mm; height 40mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from W. Derret, 1951.

Inscription

Description Notes

Scales and weights, 2 balances in box, [Persian ?], [19th century].

2 balances. One with steel beam and fittings; swan’s neck ends; self-locating steel knife-edge and ring bearings; steel index; gallows with ring bearing to hook and tassel. 2nd identical but smaller; enlarged base to index; no tassel; some floral engraving on beam. 4 brass pans (two larger, two smaller) with engraved floral decoration in base, suspension cords and hooks
Fitted wooden box with 4 octagonal weights with engraved decoration and handles. 3 cylindrical weights, all with small cast handles, two with engraved decoration; hinged lid for box of fractional weights (none extant).
Box with painted floral decoration on underside of lid, around edges, and upper side of lid, here surrounded by Persian script. Clip fastening.

Condition: good/fair; incomplete (fractional weights missing).

References

Events