Very rare, heavy marble “Domed” or “Turtle” weight, Burma, 19th century or earlier
Inscription in Burmese characters: “12 ½ Peiktha”
With 12 ½ viss / peikhta (20,4 kg) this marble stone weight - nicely carved with geometric pattern - is the largest Burmese weight.
This old piece is strongly worn from daily use on the rice market, partly soiled and discoloured.
These weights were produced of marble, found in the Sagyin quarries, north of Mandalay, following the Mandalay-Myitkyina-Hwy, near the Ayeyarwady river.
A few small quarries are still working until today to provide the marble stone for the Buddha statues.
weight: 20,4 kg
height: 190 mm / 7.48 in
diameter: 255 mm / 10.04 in
reference:
British Museum, exhibition Burma to Myanmar 2023 (see picture)
Donald and Joan Gear, "Earth to Heaven", Appendix 1, The Domed Marble Weights of Burma, Silkworm Books, 1992/2000
Michael Herrfurth und Hartmut Mollat, Arts of Asia, Special Burma Issue, Vol. 43 no. 3, May - June 2013, p. 125
Please ask for national or international shipping charges before purchasing this object.
Due to the heavy weight in some countries the parcel won't be delivered by DHL or forwarded by local standard postal services.
Thus shipping charges could be unusual high.