The use of animal shaped weights of the solar Chinese zodiac was in popular use in northern Laos and Siam from at least the 1800s where they were commonly used to weigh opium, and silver ingots. They were also kept as good luck charms and it was common for fortune tellers to keep a complete set.
It is widely agreed that the animal weights of Siam & Laos were generally much less accurate than the Burmese weights. Genuine Siamese / Lao weights were often made of a particularly high quality bronze.
Characteristics
Height: 2.6cm, 1 in
Base Length: 2.3cm, .9 in
Weight: 36 grams
Period: 19th Century
Read more about our Opium Weight Collection
Read post on Siamese / Laotian Opium Weights
View Burma Photo Gallery
