Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An incredibly fine bronze steelyard weight in the form of the bust of a goddess or empress, with shoulders draped and wavy coiffure pulled back in a simple chignon beneath a tiara and suspension loop. Her youthful visage embodies the classical ideal featuring almond-shaped eyes, a slender nose, and bow-shaped lips. The stylized bust, adorned with a simple diadem to signify rank, does not portray a specific empress or goddess but represents a broader tradition in which bust weights depicted deities, heroes, and rulers. These figures symbolized the imperial oversight of weights and measures, ensuring that transactions were conducted fairly using a scale aligned with official standards. Size: 2" L x 3" W x 3.6" H (5.1 cm x 7.6 cm x 9.1 cm)
Ancient marketplaces relied on steelyards to measure the weight of goods. The beam featured measurement markings on three of its faces, each corresponding to a different scale: one for objects up to 13 pounds, another for those up to 34 pounds, and a third for weights as heavy as 85 pounds. To use the steelyard, merchants would suspend it from one of the short hooks based on the desired scale, while the commodity hung from hooks on the two long chains. The bust weight was then adjusted along the beam until balance was achieved.
Provenance: private Thousand Oaks, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s
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#192424
Condition
Repatinated. Some light surface wear and chips to suspension loop, commensurate with age, but otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive remaining detail.