Set of nested brass weights, Europe, 1601-1700

Set of 17th century nested brass weights Set of 17th century nested brass weights Set of 17th century nested brass weights Set of nested brass weights, Europe, 1601-1700

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Set of 17th century nested brass weights
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of 17th century nested brass weights
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of 17th century nested brass weights
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of 17th century nested brass weights

These brass weights weighing more than 7 kg in total, were used to weigh sheep’s wool – a very valuable commodity in the 1600s. Shearing and spinning wool was not without its health hazards. A type of anthrax that affected the lungs was transmitted to humans from the wool of infected sheep and became known as Wool Sorters Disease. The brass weights are pictured here with another set of nested weights (A167830).

Details

Category:
Pharmacy-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A5942
Materials:
whole, brass and addition, lead
Measurements:
overall: 154 mm 142 mm, 7.31kg
type:
weights
credit:
Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)