A rare graduated set of seven Burmese bronze, opium weights, in the form of a mon duck, 17th-19th century, cast on an octagonal base, thought to be a reliable judge of the purity or impurity of silver alloys. Provenance: Collection of a former diplomat, height 5.5 - 1 cm
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- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
- Mon - A mon is a Japanese heraldic emblem, indicating the status or the family of the owner, similar to a family crest. Nowadays almost all Japanese families and many businesses have a mon.
In decorative arts, mon are used as a decorative element on a vase, plate, bowl or item of furniture.
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