Antique Weight, Zebu Shape, Solid Bronze – Northern Burma Or Thailand, 18th Century

Antique weight, zebu shape, solid bronze – Northern Burma or Thailand, 18th century. Large rice or grain weight featuring a recumbent zebu, head raised forward, legs folded under the body. The animal wears a bell suspended around its neck and has a prominent hump on its back, characteristic of the species. The horns are incised at their base, and the ears show a crown ornament. The molded oval base rests flat. Heavy object, used in traditional markets. Solid bronze with a brown patina, the surface has an old patina, with gilded highlights on worn areas. Burma or northern Thailand, 18th century Dimensions: 7.5 × 5.5 × 5 cm Weight: 1.2 kg Provenance: old collection from the South East of France, built up from the 1970s Sold with certificate of authenticity Guarantee of origin and period "This piece is part of the tradition of rice or cereal weights used in the markets of Southeast Asia, mainly in Burma and the border regions of northern Thailand. The zebu, a domestic and sacred figure, embodies fertility, strength and abundance. The significant weight (1.2 kg) corresponds to a multiple of the traditional units in local use, such as the Burmese viss, and testifies to its utilitarian function."