Turkey, Ottoman: a large, old and complete scale (‘sliding-weight scale’). All forged in iron. The sliding weight and the weighing bowl are made of brass with many old calibration marks.
Turkey, Ottoman: a large, old and complete scale (‘sliding-weight scale’). All forged in iron. The sliding weight and the weighing bowl are made of brass with many old calibration marks.
A ‘sliding-weight scale’, also known as a ‘Roman balance’ or ‘steelyard balance’. These type of scales have been known since ancient times, proven by a discovery in Pompeii. The present ‘sliding-weight scale’ is especially large and elaborately designed. It has decorative, forged projections in the form of three stars, a moon and a crescent moon. The iron leverage and the projections display in parts yellow inlays made of brass as decoration. These are in the form of dots and triangles. The long running bar (length: 116 cm) has a square cross-section and displays on its upper surface the weight range as a series of lines, notches and dots. The round weighing bowl (diameter: 29 cm) hangs from three eyelets and three iron chains. This weighing bowl displays many small, round, punched calibration marks, with number combinations in Arabic script. This suggests that this Ottoman ‘sliding-weight scale’ is of a considerable age. There are some areas of rust due to age. Otherwise no damage.
Dimensions: Height: 134 cm (from the hanging to the weighing bowl); width: 116 cm (the running bar).
18th / 19th century or earlier. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 500.-
Turkey, Ottoman: a large, old and complete scale (‘sliding-weight scale’). All forged in iron. The sliding weight and the weighing bowl are made of brass with many old calibration marks.
A ‘sliding-weight scale’, also known as a ‘Roman balance’ or ‘steelyard balance’. These type of scales have been known since ancient times, proven by a discovery in Pompeii. The present ‘sliding-weight scale’ is especially large and elaborately designed. It has decorative, forged projections in the form of three stars, a moon and a crescent moon. The iron leverage and the projections display in parts yellow inlays made of brass as decoration. These are in the form of dots and triangles. The long running bar (length: 116 cm) has a square cross-section and displays on its upper surface the weight range as a series of lines, notches and dots. The round weighing bowl (diameter: 29 cm) hangs from three eyelets and three iron chains. This weighing bowl displays many small, round, punched calibration marks, with number combinations in Arabic script. This suggests that this Ottoman ‘sliding-weight scale’ is of a considerable age. There are some areas of rust due to age. Otherwise no damage.
Dimensions: Height: 134 cm (from the hanging to the weighing bowl); width: 116 cm (the running bar).
18th / 19th century or earlier. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |