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Valued by contemporary collectors for their historical significance
and esthetic appeal, antique weights and measures reflect our desire
to establish order and advance a civilized society. Considering the
fact that the very earliest means for measurement were based on
relatively unsophisticated units--such as the seeds of the licorice
plant and the carob--it's interesting to note that these same
measures form the basis for standards that continue to be used
throughout the world today. By understanding how our system of
weights and measures evolved, the modern collector can be better
prepared to recognize authenticity and value when searching for
these antique treasures.
In the millennia before Christ, seeds provided the weight standards
guiding centers of trade in India and the Mediterranean. During the
Middle Ages, grains of wheat were commonly used to represent a
standard for weight, and wheat became the grain weight that all
present systems are built upon. In the 1500s, when most weight
manufacturers were located in and around London, weights were tested
and stamped by London officials, and most were made of iron with
small amounts of lead added for final adjustment purposes. Very few
of these lead weights, which were eventually banned in 1835,
survived.
Historically there were six distinct pounds, each holding a
different number of wheat grains, which obviously led to a certain
amount of confusion and deception. Hoping to correct this, Henry VII
(1457-1509) attempted to create a uniform system of weights. After
the Act of 1495 was passed establishing a single weight and measure
for purposes of buying and selling, the king made standards from
brass and had them distributed to the people. Copies were to be
verified and sealed by the mayors, and all defective measures were
to be broken or burnt. The bronze yard, originally cast in 1497, was
standardized by Henry VII and later restandardized by Elizabeth I.
Henry VII also created a standard for the corn bushel and the
gallon, and both originals are now housed in the Science Museum of
London, along with other weights and measures that set standards in
that period.
During her reign (1558-1603), Elizabeth I decided the only weight
suitable for weighing ordinary items would be the avoirdupois pound
comprised of 7,000 grains of rice equaling 16 ounces, determining
that the troy pound, at a weight of twelve ounces, should be
employed for weighing precious metals and stones. The avoirdupois
system, embraced by England and later the United States for weighing
almost all commodities except for precious metals, precious stones,
and drugs, used weights in a wide variety of shapes and sizes up
until the end of the 19th century. Towards the end of the century
conformity was legislated, and laws in 1878 put a stop to traders
simply using any weights that suited them.
Up until 1826, bronze and brass weights used within the parameters
of London were stamped with four distinct marks: the city dagger and
crown, the royal cipher, the Founder's ewer, and an "A" for
avoirdupois. In 1879, a uniform number of stamps appeared, but
before that, a great variety of local stamps were used, including
the initials of the manufacturing city. Over marking of a
verification stamp with a six pointed star meant the weight was
unfit for further use in trade. These weights were supposed to be
destroyed, but fortunately for antique buffs, disobedience saved
some. The stamp "solid" on a brass weight indicates it is made
entirely of brass rather than a shell of brass filled with lead,
leaving it susceptible to tampering. Lead-filled weights were
sometimes marked "cased," and are easily detected as they emit a
dull note rather than a metallic ring when taped with a small
hammer. Inspectors weights, normally a boxed set of weights for use
in the field, were called working standards, with their office
counterparts known as local standards.
Weights were sometimes made of flat shields of lead or bronze, with
a hole at the top through which to run a carrying thong. Genuine
wool weights contain a shallow, circular depression on the back,
drilled out for final adjustment. There are four marks common to
these weights: the ewer, a Roman "A" for avoirdupois, a dagger, and
a royal cipher. Identifying marks on these weight occasionally
included the maker's mark, or a town or city emblem. Sometimes
monarchs stamped their weights with the royal coat of arms.
The development of measures closely parallels that of weights, but
they are most interesting because of their variety. Prior to the
17th century most ordinary measures were made of wood because pewter
was too expensive. Earlier measures, made of leather, did not often
survive. Wooden measures often split, were therefore banned from use
for liquids in the 18th century, and were thereafter used solely to
measure dry goods such as peas, corn, and garden seed. Pewter, a
soft metal made largely from tin, contained a good deal of lead in
the 16th century, making it very heavy. As it was refined over
succeeding centuries it became lighter; after 1907 was not allowed
to contain more than 10 percent lead. Similar to silver, all pewter
is required to bear a name or a symbol of identification; some
measures bear false hallmarks, marks put on by the manufacturer to
give the impression the piece is made of silver. Genuine measures
will have a denomination, i.e. peck or gallon, and a royal cipher or
town mark usually bearing a date.
Collectors are advised to carefully examine all weights and measures
before purchasing, as recasts and reproductions are commonly
produced in large numbers. Rough or sharp edges, normally smoothed
down over many years of use, indicate a reproduction. Items should
be smooth throughout, with no pitting or small holes to be found. In
modern times, much of the faking in measures appears in items made
of pewter or copper, which can be treated with acid, dented, or made
to mimic other signs of aging.
One of the best things a collector can do is to handle as many
genuine old pieces and view as many authenticated pieces in museums
as possible in order to become familiar with their quality. For
those interested in researching verification marks for weights and
measures, the Internet provides a host of sites that are both
interesting and informative. Assessment by weighing or measuring was
just as important to early societies as it is today, making the
collection of these antiques a rich investment for anyone who values
history. While any collector should be forearmed with as much
knowledge and experience as possible, remember Eve's advice: "Trust
an experienced antiques dealer to guide you through the collecting
process, and use their expertise to help you make the best possible
choice."
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