Nuremberg, brass lion counterweight

Nuremberg, brass lion counterweight, cast on an integral suspension base.

This lion is part of a scale made in Nuremberg, Germany for weighing pharmaceutical substances. The three-dimensional mount of a lion couchant with a ball nestled between his front paws and his left paw resting upon it was used as a counterweight to keep scales suspended while they were in use. When the scale was not being used, it was important to keep the balance beam holding the weighing pans from unnecessary movement, which could cause wear in the areas of suspension. The lion was tied to the end of a string (through the internal suspension hole in the lion's base) that held the balance pans up or lowered them down depending on the position of the lion.

Weight: 114 g

Base: ± 46,5 x 21,2 mm
Height: ± 33,2 mm

Condition: very fine condition with minimal traces of wear.