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License3 sets of scales with weights and accessories in lacquered
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
3 sets of scales with weights and accessories in lacquered wooden box, Iranian, 19th century
This elaborately decorated box contains three sets of equal balance arm scales and weights. Equal balance arm scales suspend two disk shaped pans off either end of a horizontal pole. The weights in either pan must be equal for the pole to remain horizontal.
Ingenious locking mechanisms reveal hidden aspects of the box. A spring-loaded button releases a small removable box containing a tiny set of scales, and removing a delicate pin reveals a hidden mirror. This example of boxed weighing scales dates from 1800s Iran. It was used in the medicine and jewellery trades. Both trades required the precise measurements of goods.
Details
- Category:
- Pharmacy-ware
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A128419
- Materials:
- box, brass, box, wood, box, glass, scales, steel and scales, brass
- Measurements:
-
fully opened: 67 mm x 322 mm x 366 mm, 3.26 kg
closed: 90 mm x 322 mm x 188 mm, 3.26 kg
- type:
- scales - weighing device
- credit:
- Putrus
Parts
Set of 5 cylindrical brass weights
Set of 5 cylindrical brass weights, each with hinged grip on top
- Measurements:
-
largest: height 45 mm
largest: diameter 43 mm
smallest: height 21 mm
smallest: diameter 21 mm
- Materials:
- brass
- Object Number:
- A128419 Pt4
- type:
- weight sets
Set of 5 cylindrical brass weights
Set of 5 cylindrical brass weights, each with knob on top
- Measurements:
-
largest: height 18 mm
largest: diameter 17 mm
smallest: height 12 mm
smallest: diameter 9 mm
- Materials:
- brass
- Object Number:
- A128419 Pt5
- type:
- weight sets
Set of 6 rectangular weights
Set of 6 rectangular weights, within small box in sub-compartment of main box
- Measurements:
-
largest: length 17 mm
largest: width 16 mm
largest: depth 3 mm
smallest: length 8 mm
smallest: width 8 mm
smallest: depth 1 mm
- Materials:
- brass
- Object Number:
- A128419 Pt6
- type:
- weight sets
Spirit level
Spirit level, glass tube containing yellow liquid
- Measurements:
-
length 116 mm
depth 7 mm
- Materials:
- glass
- Object Number:
- A128419 Pt9
- type:
- spirit levels
Lacquered wooden box for 3 sets of scales with weights and accessories
Lacquered wooden box for 3 sets of scales with weights and accessories, Iranian, 19th century
- Measurements:
-
length 320 mm
width 184 mm
depth 73 mm
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy) , glass , steel (metal) and wood (unidentified)
- Object Number:
- A128419 Pt12
- type:
- case
