Carved Teakwood Opium Scale Box

A small metal balance scale is enclosed within this wood container carved in the shape of the Burmese crane, known as a “karaweik,” that holds a fish in its bill. Although commonly called “opium” scales, such rudimentary instruments, and the so-called “opium” weights used with them, were basic merchant tools used in daily bazaars to measure just about anything that fit into the small trays. Mythical animals and birds were favorite design elements for items associated with the scales. In addition to the exotic crane with its impressively long tail that forms one side of this box, it also has carvings of a bull/lion creature, called a to-aung, and a small bird, both nestled among foliage that forms the widest part of the container. Touches of red, blue and yellow highlight the carving in random fashion. This mid-20th century Burmese box is in excellent condition. The scale has damage on one tray (see photo enlargements #5 and #11). Dimensions: length 11” (28 cm), width 6” (15 cm), depth 3 ˝” (9 cm). SEE MORE ITEMS IN OUR COLLECTION AT WWW.SILKROAD1.COM

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