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Subject:Re: Opium Weight
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Hi Dan E,
I'm not sure if you're fishing for info or not, but as a fellow fancier of Burmese weights I thought I'd add my two cents.
Your weight is one of those that reflects a mixture of Hindu and Tibeto-Burman mythology on Burmese culture. Weights like it represent a fabulous animal called the 'toe', a legendary Himalayan creature whose 'species' include the horse-like 'toe myin', as well as its cousins the taurine 'toe oung' and 'leonine toe naya'. Yours looks to be a bullish toe oung, similar to those shown in my photos. This set dates to the 19th century and was acquired from antique peddlers in Rangoon more than 25 years ago. They have official marks struck into them to attest to meeting government standards. Though called 'opium' weights, they actually were in more widespread commercial use in Burma.
Cheers,
Bill H.
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- Dan E. - Dec 27, 2009 (06:13 PM) 
