Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Gold Rush Pocket Scale in an Green enameled Tin, ca 1850

About the Item

EXCEPTIONAL GOLD RUSH POCKET SCALE WITH GREEN, ENAMELED TIN, GILT EAGLE & LETTERING THAT READS: “MADE EXPRESSLY FOR CALIFORNIA,” circa 1850 “Miners' Improved Gold Scale,” made circa 1850, with green-enameled & gilt-painted, patriotic carrying tin. This pocket-sized example, likely of German or Swiss manufacture, was produced for the American market in response to the 1849 California Gold Rush. Decorated with a spread-winged federal eagle, carrying a billowing streamer with the familiar Latin motto “E Pluribus Unum” (out of many, one), the text on the lid reads “Manufactured expressly for California.” The scale itself is comprised of a brass pointer, brass beam, chains, and pans. A wooden partition, custom fitted into the interior of the tin, is drilled to firmly hold the .5, 1, 2, and 4-ounce brass weights. Examples of pocket scales in similar format are known with various contents, and in various shaped tins, some oval, some rectangular, painted green, orange, or black. This style has the best decoration of any of the known types, due to its large and graphically dynamic eagle, and retains the best condition of any example that I have seen either within or outside museum collections. It is an amazing relic of the Gold Rush and a great piece of the mid-19th century patriotic America of the Wild West. Condition: Minor expected wear. The best example I have seen.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.25 in (53.98 cm)Width: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1850
  • Condition:
    See Item Descriptio.
  • Seller Location:
    York County, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: pat-6331stDibs: LU849741564282

More From This Seller

View All
Native American Beadwork Gauntlets with an Chief, ca 1880-90
Located in York County, PA
Native American beadwork gauntlets with Indian Chiefs in feathered headdresses, probably souix, Ca 1880-90 Native American beadwork gauntlet...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Objects

Materials

Leather

34 Stars in an Outstanding Oval Medallion Configuration, Civil War Period
Located in York County, PA
34 STARS IN AN OUTSTANDING OVAL MEDALLION CONFIGURATION, ON A NARROW CANTON THAT RESTS ON THE 6TH STRIPE, ON A HOMEMADE, ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD, ENTIRELY HAND-...
Category

Antique 1860s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Green Painted Pennsylvania Hanging Pie Safe, ca 1850-1880
Located in York County, PA
Pennsylvania hanging pie safe, in first surface green paint, with circular medallion and opposing fan decoration, circa 1850-1880 Pennsylvania hang...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Painted Furniture

Materials

Wood

Printed Linen Kerchief of George Washington, ca 1806, Germantown, PA
Located in York County, PA
Extraordinarily early (1806) printed linen kerchief glorifying George Washington, Germantown print works, Germantown, Pennsylvania Printed in sepia ink on coarse, white linen, this patriotic kerchief shows a standing portrait of George Washington, above which is a swag valance and the words “The Effect of Principle, Behold the Man”. The portrait is based on a mezzotint after Gilbert Stuart’s very famous painting of Washington in his later years. Stuart painted it in oil on canvas for a wealthy merchant by the name of William Constable, who commissioned the work for Alexander Hamilton. The kerchief is interesting because it is both American-made and documented. This is exceptionally unusual for any printed textile of the 19th century or prior and the earlier the time period the more unlikely an object is to be identified. This kerchief and a companion piece entitled “The Love of Truth Mark the Boy” (also glorifying Washington through the fabled story of the cherry tree), were made ca 1806 by Germantown Print Works in Germantown, Pennsylvania. To the left of Washington's image is a portion of his infamous farewell address to his troops at the end of the Revolutionary War. To the right is a short excerpt from his eulogy. Below these are three images. In the center is a square-rigged tall ship with “Commercial Union” above it, flanked by the American eagle on the left and the British lion...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Linen

Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910
Located in York County, PA
Commission pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. Flown at the topmast, the typical American format is a long blue field, usually with a single row of white stars, although sometimes with their total divided into two rows, followed by two long stripes, red-over-white. A ship became commissioned when this pennant was hoisted. Flown during both times of peace and war, the only time the pennant is not flown is if a flag officer or civilian official was aboard and replaced it with their own flag. Sometimes the owners of private ships mimicked the use of Navy signals. Some seafaring men would have served in the Navy and become privy to various practices in that capacity. Others flew them purely for stylistic reasons, either on a regular basis or while the boat was dressed for special occasion. Hudson River steamers regularly flew pennants of this nature, as evidenced by period photography as well as the paintings of artists such as John and James Bard...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

48 Crocheted Stars on Graphic, Three-Dimensional Flag Made of Silk, ca 1917-1918
Located in York County, PA
48 crocheted stars on a very graphic, three-dimensional flag made from silk ribbon and crocheted rings, WWI Era (U.S. involvement 1917-18) Homemade, ha...
Category

Early 20th Century Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

You May Also Like

An oversized brass silk scale with wooden stand, Italy 1850.
Located in Milan, IT
Ancient scale for weighing silk. Over a square wooden base weighted with lead with brass plaque and connecting element rise the tall wooden central part, made out of wood, with moved...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique City Plan of Rotterdam in Frame, ca.1850
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique map titled 'Grondkaart der stad Rotterdam (..)'. Original antique city plan of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Published circa 1850. Artists...
Category

Antique 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Map of New South Wales in Australia, ca. 1850
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique map of Victoria, or Port Phillip (12.7 x 10.0") in Australia. Superb map of Victoria roughly centered on Melbourne. Vignettes of Aborigines, a ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Maps

Materials

Paper

1850 Austrian Enamel Coin Purse
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a unique little Biedermeier coin purse. Its case is made of brass covered in royal blue enamel. The lid displays an oval gold colored frame filled with white enamel with ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Antique realistic wooden crucifix, France ca. 1850
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1850 / crucifix / wood / Antique / Baroque / Rustic A beautiful small wooden crucifix made in France around 1850. This crucifix features a meticulously detailed figure of ...
Category

Antique 1850s French Rustic Religious Items

Materials

Wood

Antique Map of Victoria, or Port Phillip in Australia, ca. 1850
Located in Langweer, NL
This antique map, measuring approximately 12.7 x 10.0 inches, showcases Victoria, specifically centered around Melbourne, Australia. Crafted by John Tallis around 1850, this map is p...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Maps

Materials

Paper

Recently Viewed

View All