Secret Life of Antique Scales

 

Antique scales are stunning decorative accents for your home, with deep roots in the past. These days, the scales we use are mostly digital. Not beautiful, nor a decorative accent like the antique scales, that’s for sure. The history of scales goes centuries back, fascinating! Let’s look at the secret life of antique scales.

 

The Indus River Valley has the oldest evidence of weighing devices – balance scales – from 2400 -1800 BC. Scales were used to standardize trade among civilizations in the ancient world, without much change until the 3rd or 4th centuries BC. Where before, scales were made of wood or stone, craftsmen began making scales in bronze, brass, iron marble and other more substantive materials.

 

 

 

Scales were made to weigh all sorts of things, from small, delicate jeweler’s scales shown in this painting by Pieter de Hooch during the Dutch Golden Age, to huge scales used in industry.

 

 

 

 

Most of the scales we have sold at FrenchGardenHouse are French. The French scales from the 18th and 19th centuries are so lovely with their cast iron or wood and marble bases and bright brass or copper pans.

 

 

They are used as decorative objects by our clients, in kitchens. When designer Sue Murphy created a gorgeous French Country kitchen for her client, a beautiful scale was placed front and center!

{You can visit this home tour HERE> }

 

 

 

 

Scales also look fantastic anywhere and everywhere else in their homes. One collector has a gorgeous display of our antique French scales in his library, on a stunning built in set of shelves.

 

 

Each antique scale has it’s own stories to whisper, it’s own patina, and its own personality. I love really unusual antique scales. An antique scale can really add history and charming interest to any room in your home.

 

Scales are useful antiques that have had a life for a purpose, and now, mostly, they can live out their remaining years in a home, loved just for their looks and personality!

 

 

 

Here are some of my latest finds, I have to admit, they are all favorites!

 

 

{see all newly arrived antiques here>}

Now that you’ve learned a tiny bit about the secret life of antique scales, would you add one to your home decor?

 

A BIENTOT

 

Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com