Opium weight, Burma
Bronze opium weight, Burma.
Style:
Classic Chicken (female) style.
Opium weights were used not only as units of opium measurement, but used in everyday transactions where items were traded by weight.
They were produced in a range of different designs, primarily based on animals or creatures from local religion/mythology.
They were produced in series from very small weights to much larger sizes.
Although the units of measurement do not correspond neatly to western scales of measurement, there is a proportional relationship, between the various sizes in a series.
Dimensions:
5 cm high x 3.5 cm wide x 3.5 cm deep
Weight:
158g
Date:
19th century