Existing comment:
Scale with Counterweight for Measuring Gold
1560-70
Wenzel Jamnitzer
Guarded by the fierce life-cast lizard on the movable counterweight, the female figure on the stem of this scale is likely an allegorical representation of Justice, as scales symbolized trustworthy and accurate measure. A small, jewel-like scale such as this was probably used to weigh gold and precious stones, or ingredients in the experiments of princes and their alchemists. It belongs to a small group of surviving measuring instruments produced in Jamnitzer's workshop. |