Accession No

0775

Brief Description

apothecary’s scales and weights, by John Harris, English, 1700 (c)

Origin

England; London; Rood Lane

Maker

Harris, John

Class

balances

Earliest Date

1700

Latest Date

1700

Inscription Date

Material

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

Dimensions

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from A. Johnson, Bournemouth, England, on 31/01/1935.

Inscription

‘John Harris, Scale Maker, at\the Sign of the Sun and Scales
against the church in Rood-lane
near Fenchurch-Street. Selleth all
sorts of Beams, Scales, Weights, and
Stilliards’ (label in lid)
‘21 Grains’ (longhand)

Description Notes

Steel beam and fittings; swan’s neck ends; self-locating knife edge and ring bearing; index over with circular aperture in base. Gallows with ring bearing and hook. Two circular brass pans with cords. Fitted wooden box. Circular slot for weights. 5 lozenge-shaped weights; 1, 2 x 2 and 3 scruples. One marked with two circles and stamped lion (? none original). Slot for fractional weights with sliding lid; 6 weights extant.
Label in lid of box. Clip fastening. Burnished floral decoration on lid.

Condition fair; incomplete (some weights missing)

References

Events