(5) Burmese Bronze Opium Weights. Lot comprised of five bronze opium weights in the shape of ducks. Includes raised wooden base with glass inlay.

Size: 1 3/4 x 3 x 6 1/2 in.

Opium weights are small, often intricately crafted objects used historically to measure opium for trade, sale, or personal use, particularly in East and Southeast Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries. Typically made from materials such as brass, bronze, or carved stone, they were calibrated to standard local units and sometimes marked with inscriptions or symbols denoting their weight. Beyond their practical function, opium weights often reflected regional artistry, with miniature animal shapes, geometric forms, or cultural motifs. Collectors today value them both for their historical significance in the context of the opium trade and for their craftsmanship, which provides insight into the material culture and daily life of the regions where opium consumption was widespread.

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