Monumental 19th C. French Brass Butcher's Balance Scale with Bull Head Finial

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Monumental 19th Century French Brass Butcher's Trade Scale with Bull Finial
A rare and highly decorative 19th-century French butcher's or … Read more Monumental 19th Century French Brass Butcher's Trade Scale with Bull Finial
A rare and highly decorative 19th-century French butcher's or market balance scale, executed predominantly in brass and of impressive architectural form. Rising from an ornate cast-brass plinth, the central column supports two graduated balance beams: a large lower beam with a pair of substantial circular weighing pans suspended by linked chains, and a smaller upper beam with two additional brass pans for finer measurement or tare weighing.
The scale is surmounted by an exceptional sculptural bull's head finial, emblematic of the meat trade and livestock markets, lending the piece a distinctive and imposing presence. The elegant combination of functional engineering and decorative craftsmanship reflects the quality of commercial weighing instruments produced in France during the 19th century.
Originally intended for use in a butcher's shop, market hall, or provisions merchant, this remarkable scale today serves as a striking decorative object and an important example of antique trade equipment.
Dimensions: 45 in. wide × 69 in. high (114.3 × 175.3 cm)
A rare survivor of monumental scale, notable for its unusual double-beam construction, handsome patinated brass surface, and exceptional bull-head finial. See less