Antique Burmese Opium Weights - Questions

I got these purported Antique Burmese Opium Weights to go with my new antique opium pillow. I found the same set pf 6 elephant weight on a site, Sold Price: Antique Burmese Bronze Opium Weights - February 3, 0119 4:00 PM GMT (invaluable.com) I based my title on this. Mine are bronze and have a heavy patina.

Here are my questions:

1. Are they antique? If so, about what time would you think?
2. Are they Burmese? Burmese is thrown around a lot with respect to opium weights.
3. Are they opium weights?

Here are the specifications in grams and the largest and smallest in inches -the rest are graduated sizes. The grams might be off as someone added green felt to the bottoms.

1. 254 grams 2 inches tall and 2 inches wide
2. 166 grams
3. 122 grams
4. 73 grams
5. 35 grams
6. 31 grams 3/4 inch tall and 3/4 inch wide

Hoping someone knows something. If so, please share with me.




Here is the opium pillow

 

https://www.opium-weights.com/about-opium-weights/different-weight-systems/

 

antique-burmese-bronze-opium-weights-169-c-b08484a989

they look a lot like these.... right down to the 3nd one having green goo on it......so I'll say they are non functional & decorative...

 

I agree that the surfaces look artificial. Artisans in Thailand are very good at making "antique" copies of cast metal artifacts.

 

Thank you for your insight. I saw a lot of ducks when I was looking for opium weights. Every purchase I make is intended to be a learning experience. The felt bottoms made me concerned too.

 

Agree with the others, decorative and not old. May not even have been made in Burma/Myanmar. Cute though.

 

I am not familiar with "opium weights". Collectors of opium antique do not regard these as opium paraphernalia and not found in opium antique coffee table books.

 

Thank you very much for looking. I really appreciate it.

 

The original ones were used to weigh a small quantity of any substance. So they were used for herbs and spices, precious metals, etc.
In Asia opium was regarded as one of the medicinal herbs and spices, and these weights were also used for opium, but not made specifically for any one substance.

In the 20th century, in comes commerce. The 'mystery' of the word opium appeals more to buyers than simply "small weights for whatever".
But granted, "whatever" included opium.

Real Burmese weights were handled a lot, just like they were anywhere. That means that their surface is smooth, very tactile.

 

Those are Hintha birds, very important in Burmese mythology.

 

Excellent insights. I have to go feel my weights up.

 

Hintha birds. New word. Love it.