This book describes the famous animalshaped weights of Burma sometimes misnamed ‘opium weights’. Described are previously unknown weights that first appeared in eleventh century Bagan (Burma) the totemic weights of the Ava kings and subsequent weights in the form of the duck fabled hintha and the leonine chinthe and toe. Burmese kings controlled the production of weights which remained in use throughout Burma until the end of the nineteenth century. Such weights in animal form could weigh anywhere from a fraction of a gram up to 60 kg. While these weights were vital in commerce they were iconic for Burmese people. Animalshaped weights spread to neighbouring lands especially Thailand and Laos where depiction of the elephant was prevalent. We explore the relevant weights of other lands including the Ancient World Ghana India China and Vietnam where weights have distinctive and related forms. The book differs greatly from others as it addresses a range of topics often for the first time. These include: the role of weights in Asian cultures the manufacture of weights using lostwax casting metal analysis of weights counterfeit and regional weights ‘weights’ used as amulets weights produced more recently in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries fakes and reproductions and the collectability and care of animalshaped weights. The book is richly illustrated with over 450 colour illustrations. About the Author Rick Willis is a botanist born in Canada known for his works on the chemical interactions of plants (allelopathy) who lives in Melbourne Australia. Recently he has concentrated on his longterm interests in Asian art and antiquities. Over 30 years he has accumulated a vast collection of trade weights from Southeast Asia and India which have formed the core material for the present work and subsequent books on the weights of India. Greg Herman is a Melbournebased collector of Burmese weights who is familiar with Southeast Asia. He played a key role with study material and photography and contributed critically to the manuscript.
