Late Shan Duck, Hamsa, With Green Bronze Pattina

A beautiful Late Shan Duck, Hamsa, with a very fine green bronze pattina all over the body. The figure is standing on a hexagonal base, with 2 lines around it. On top of the head the duck has a cockscomb spike.

Weight: 2 Tical = 33 Grams

This Hamsa/Shan Duck is part of the laast released groups of Burmese standard weights. The last group was sent out during during the Konbaung Period (1752 - 1885). And this example is no older than the 1800's.

The Burmese Standard weights were produced by official sites appointed by the king/leader of the country - because of this there were in general very stylistic tendencies throughout time. But this also motivated people to forge their own weights, and cheat.

Even though there are stylistic tendencies one must not forget that the late shan or hamsa weights are more or less a slightly diferent copy of the older Mon ducks and Golden Hamsas.

Sorry for a bit unclear pictures, they will be updated in the future! Otherwise just contact me for pictures or more info on the piece.
Kind Regards,
Theodor Knutzen, Antiqua Gallery

Provenance: Ex. Private Collection, Netherlands.

Culture & Year: Burmese, 1752 - 1800 AD.

Litterature Reference: Leif Bering Mikkelsen. Opium Weights - Old Animal-shaped Bronze Weights from Southeast Asia. Commercial, ethnic, symbolic and historical perspectives. 2017.

Condition: Very fine, beautiful green bronze pattina.

Heigth: 3.2 cm
Length: 2.2 cm
Width: 2 cm