Substantial French Two-Pan Mercantile Scale Circa 1900 - 30"

This grand French two-pan counter scale, circa 1900, features a dark-stained wooden base edged with fine brass stringing and topped by a thick white marble slab with softly chamfered corners. Two large shallow brass trays rest on cylindrical posts, their surfaces showing a handsome, well-settled patina. At the center front, an ornate cartouche frames the pointer dial, stamped with the brand of the Mulatière Factory in Lyon. Substantial and heavy, the scale is in very good condition: the brass trays are timeworn with gentle marks, the marble shows light edge wear, and the base bears minor scuffs consistent with age. The mechanism remains functional.

Two-pan balance scales of this type served grocers, market merchants, and apothecaries, marrying a hygienic marble work surface with robust brass pans for daily weighing of produce and dry goods. The front pointer offered quick visual confirmation of equilibrium, while the refined brass line inlay and shaped cartouche reflect the tasteful industrial sensibility of the late Second Empire into the Belle Époque, when utility and ornament were thoughtfully combined.

The Mulatière Factory, located just outside central Lyon, supplied precision instruments and shop fittings to the region’s thriving trade, and is known for solid engineering paired with understated elegance. As a decorative accent, the scale makes a striking focal point on a large kitchen island or pantry counter, its warm brass and pale marble lending texture and authenticity to contemporary finishes. It also sits beautifully on a long sideboard or buffet in a dining room, styled with seasonal fruit, flowers, or period weights to add both historical context and sculptural interest. In a retail or hospitality setting, it offers a characterful counter display with genuine period presence.

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 9½" high x 30" wide x 12¼"
Approx. overall 24cm high x 76cm wide x 31cm