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LicenseRectangular, painted wooden chest containing 3 balances, stand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Rectangular, painted wooden chest containing 3 balances, stand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Rectangular, painted wooden chest containing 3 balances, stand, weights and accessories, Persian, 1801-1900
This elaborately decorated box contains three separate sets of scales, with a stand. It also contains weights and tweezers of varying sizes which slot into custom-made compartments. These may have been used within the medicine and jewellery trades. Both trades required the precise measurements of goods. The 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.
Details
- Category:
- Pharmacy-ware
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A128420
- Measurements:
-
overall: 90 mm x 490 mm x 315 mm,
- type:
- scales - weighing device
- credit:
- Putrus
Parts
Small apothecary's balance
Stand from which the various balances hang. Fits into slot in box to keep it steady
Beam or measure in two pieces
Elaborately decorated large tweezers
Small tweezers with key-hole shape finial
Short tweezers, bent ends, long pointed finial
Dividers, hinged at top, ornate finial
Dividers, ornate hinge on second arm
Set of twelve brass weights
Small square brass weight
