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THB(12) Opium Weights of Burmese Bronze Dragon Design
About Seller
522 South Pineapple Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
United States
Sarasota Estate Auction specializes in a wide variety of furniture, antiques, fine art, lighting, sculptures, and collectibles. Andrew Ford, owner and operator of the company, has a passion for finding the best pieces of art and antiques and sharing those finds with the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $250 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,500 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $500 |
| $20,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,500 |
| $100,000 | $5,000 |
| $250,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
LiveAug 25, 2024
Over 800 lots will be offered in day 2 of our 2 day weekend. There are multiple lots of important fine art from landscapes and etchings to old masters and portraits. We have a great collection of sterling silver, 18th and 19th century furniture, a lifetime collection of fantastic estate jewelry, Asian antiquities, and more! Sarasota Estate Auction sarasotaestateauction@gmail.com
View Full Catalog (807)
- Lot Description
Lot comprised of twelve bronze opium weights of different sizes, in the form of dragons with incise detail decoration. Opium weights were used throughout Burma, Laos, and Thailand to measure the weights of valuable trade goods. While the smallest weights were generally reserved for opium, the weights were also used for other commodities such as silver ingots and precious gems.
Largest Size: 1 1/2 x 2 x 1 1/2 in.
#2940 #2 .
Animal shaped metallic weights have been around for thousands of years, and although it is difficult to pinpoint their origins, or when they began to be used specifically as opium weights, those in particular seem to have first appeared in what is now the nation of Burma. Archaeological excavations in Central Burma near a Pyu period settlement dating back to 100-400 A.D. uncovered two small brass sculptures resembling a duck and a lion with identically shaped bases in slightly different sizes. Although it is impossible to conclusively say that weighing heroin is what these pieces were used for, there are several documents written starting in the 11th Century regarding weights and their uses, particularly under King Anawratha, the first king of Burma. Temples were built according to strict measurements, and by the Golden Age of Burma under the reign of King Kyanzitha (1084-1112) there was an official system of measurement for every part of the country. A palm leaf manuscript discovered in Myanmar in 2010 was written by the administrator to King Alaungpaya in the 18th Century, and marks the first written evidence that weights were standardized in animal shapes, even stating that they had been so as far back as the 13th Century. The manuscript lists the chicken, stork, stag, elephant, goat, bear, heron, cat, and 8 other animals specific to the region that were used, although their associated weights fluctuated over the years. When the British occupied Mandalay in 1885, they attempted to introduce flat round iron weights to replace the stylized bronze ones. The beloved animal weights were kept in secret, and thus wound up used primarily for “illicit” trade, particularly associated with opium in the following decades. Today (unofficially) the pieces are still produced, ostensibly simply as items for the tourist trade, and not for the sale of drugs.
- Shipping Info
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SHIPPING INFORMATION·
Sarasota Estate Auction IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING! BUYER MUST ARRANGE SHIPPING. All shipping will be handled by the winning bidder. Sarasota Estate Auction recommends obtaining shipping quotes before bidding on any items in our auctions. To obtain a quote, please email info@premiershipment.com. Be sure to include the lot you are interested in and address you would like the quote for. Refunds are not offered under any circumstances base on shipping issues, this is up to the buyer to arrange this beforehand.
BIDDER MUST ARRANGE THEIR OWN SHIPPING. Although SEA will NOT arrange shipping for you, we do recommend our preferred shipper Premier Shipping & Crating at info@premiershipment.com You MUST email them, please DO NOT CALLl. If you'd like to compare shipping quotes or need more options, feel free to contact any local Sarasota shippers. You can email any one of the shippers below as well. Be sure to include the lot(s) you won and address you would like it shipped to. Brennan with The UPS Store #0089 - 941-413-5998 - Store0089@theupsstore.com AK with The UPS Store #2689 - 941-954-4575 - Store2689@theupsstore.com Steve with The UPS Store #4074 - 941-358-7022 - Store4074@theupsstore.com Everett with PakMail - 941-751-2070 - paktara266@gmail.com
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- Payment & Auction Policies
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Available payment options
We accept all major credit cards, wire transfers, money orders, checks and PayPal. Please give us a call at (941) 359-8700 or email us at SarasotaEstateAuction@gmail.com to take care of your payments.
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- Size
1 1/2 x 2 x 1 1/2 in.
