19th C. Chinese Qing Brass / Bone Scale + Wooden Case
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Description
**Originally Listed At $300**
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 1850s CE. A simple bovine bone and brass scale with the original wooden case. The scale is comprised of a bone balance bar with black stippling to indicate measurements and a shallow brass pan. The pan is suspended from the bone beam with thin cords. The scale can collapse and fits inside of the paddle shaped case, which is hand carved from wood and swings open on a rivet. Westerners may think of this as an "opium scale" but these scales were used for weighing many different precious items, such as gold or medicinal herbs. Size of case: 12" L x 3" W (30.5 cm x 7.6 cm); length of bone beam: 10.25" L (26 cm)
Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most Antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs broker.
#162568
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 1850s CE. A simple bovine bone and brass scale with the original wooden case. The scale is comprised of a bone balance bar with black stippling to indicate measurements and a shallow brass pan. The pan is suspended from the bone beam with thin cords. The scale can collapse and fits inside of the paddle shaped case, which is hand carved from wood and swings open on a rivet. Westerners may think of this as an "opium scale" but these scales were used for weighing many different precious items, such as gold or medicinal herbs. Size of case: 12" L x 3" W (30.5 cm x 7.6 cm); length of bone beam: 10.25" L (26 cm)
Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most Antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs broker.
#162568
Condition
Threads are fraying and fragile with knotted areas. Missing brass weight. Loss to tip of wood case. Glue reside on surface of lid. Nice patina on wood and brass.
Buyer's Premium
- 24.5%
19th C. Chinese Qing Brass / Bone Scale + Wooden Case
Estimate $500 - $750
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Item located in Louisville, CO, usOffers In-House Shipping
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