Originating in the Burmese kingdoms of Bagan and Ava, their initial designs were drawn from animals linked with stories from the life of the Buddha, local religion and royal history, the most widely found shapes including a squat duck (the hamsa, or divine bird), a mythical lion (chinthe, a symbol of royal power) or an elephant. The more common types of opium weights range from a tiny 1.5g to a very substantial 16kg. Opium Weights & Other Animal-Shaped Weights recounts the history of these fascinating and highly collectible items and includes do's and don't's for collectors. With over 500 color photographs this book not only provides an excellent guide for the collector but a treasure trove of delightful imagery.
