Antique Chinese Weighing Scale

Antique Chinese Weighing Scales known as “ dachings “ are extremely rare. Typically, of China and Malayan origin, dachings of all sizes were used in the wet markets to weigh produce, small animals, meats and sacks of flour and rice among other commodities in the early half of the 1900s. The daching featured here was purchased at an antique shop in Singapore circa 1995, one of few remaining dachings then for sale. A similar daching can be seen at the National Museum of Singapore ( see insert ) The daching is constructed of iron, black hardwood with brass caps and inlays, is 1.5 metre long and weighs 2.2 kg. Two photos of wall mounted dachings ( these are not for sale ) illustrate how dachings can be displayed and appreciated at home ! Two old pics of Singapore's wet markets show how smaller dachings were used to weigh produce.