Late 19th-Century French Countertop Scale - 25¼"

An evocative late 19th-century French countertop balance scale, combining a warm wooden case with two broad brass weighing pans and an oval glazed indicator set into the front. The restrained, practical construction is softened by the richly aged surfaces: the timber has developed a deep patina, while the brass bears the mellow oxidation and marks of long use.  Weighscales were everyday equipment in shops, markets, pharmacies, and other commercial settings, where goods were weighed against standardized counterweights. 

Today, the scale has considerable decorative appeal as an object of old-fashioned trade: the symmetry of the twin pans and the contrast of brass and wood create a strong, graphic composition. Displayed on a kitchen counter, the pans could be styled with marble fruit, or fresh lemons, walnuts, or garlic bulbs. It brings warmth, history and the unmistakable atmosphere of an old French shop interior.