(046) "Опиумные" весы. Китай, Тибет, Бирма, Непал, Бутан.: funtofil

funtofil

(046) "Опиумные" весы. Китай, Тибет, Бирма, Непал, Бутан.

Jun 01, 2015 20:05

Весы и "опиумные" разновесы из Мьянмы (Бирмы) - https://funtofil.livejournal.com/7714.html

Нож/весы сборщика опиума. Турция - https://funtofil.livejournal.com/1258306.html

Пять "опиумных" весов (дотчин).

Five Opium Scales, or Dotchins, Very Good to Fine. A dotchin is a long wooden paddle-shaped device containing a small scale with a single pan,
and an unequal arm balance with a sliding weight. These were carried by Chinese merchants in early times. Although they became known as "opium scales"
in the 19th century, they were actually used to weigh many different kinds of small objects, such as coins, gems, and pharmaceutical drugs.
The first item in this lot is a dotchin with rounded ends. The knobbed ends are slightly bigger than the narrowest part of the stem.
The case contains maroon thread on a red seal cardboard holder, a white beam with marked increments, and one round custom weight with protruding top and bottom.
The second dotchin is similarly shaped, but the knobbed ends are considerably larger than the thinnest part of the stem. An inset in the case holds a single
round custom weight with two holes in it. Some green thread is attached to a red seal cardboard holder. A white beam with marked increments is included.
A metal clasp is attached to the outside of the dotchin. The third dotchin has a wider, squat shape, with red seal tan thread, a large oval gray weight
in a custom inset in the case, and a black beam, with a clasp on the outside of the dotchin. The fourth dotchin is guitar shaped, with a narrow handle ending
in a knob and Chinese characters on the wide part of the case. A sliding band around the handle allows the case to be opened, or holds it closed.
The case includes a white beam, with marked increments and a rectangular custom weight in an inset in the case, with no-seal thread.
The last dotchin is also guitar-shaped, with a plain wooden case and a sliding band around the handle. Wooden beam and pan are included.
A custom inset holds two weights, one much smaller than the other. Approximate dimensions vary, the largest: 13 x 4.0 x 1.0 inches.
Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.