UNIQUE! Old Bronze Snapping Turtle Opium Weight
A MUST HAVE FOR ANY REAL COLLECTOR
RARE & Authentic handmade Bronze Opium Weight Snapping Turtle design. Expertly crafted by Karen Hill Tribe people who live in the Golden Triangle region. Opium Weights like this were used throughout the Golden Triangle region to weight opium during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These days old unusual weights like this are increasingly difficult to find and procure. I have included a brief history of the Karen People below.
Dimensions: Can be seen in the photos.
Weight: 75 grams
Materials: Bronze.
Age: circa 1900-1920
All offers will be seriously considered, MAKE BEST OFER NOW!
Thanks for your time and consideration... sidthesquid
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KAREN PEOPLE
For centuries much of the population of northern Thailand has been composed of ethnic groups commonly known as 'hilltribes'. The largest of these is the Karen group numbering around 400,000 in Thailand.
The two main Karen groups in Thailand are the Sgaw and Pwo Karen. The Karen Hilltribes Trust works with the largest, the Sgaw Karen, who live in the Khun Yuam and Mae La Noi districts of the Mae Hong Son Province.
Their history in northern Thailand can be traced back to the twelfth century. It is thought that Karen originally came from Tibet, through China, and eventually to Thailand.
In Thailand they mostly live in the more remote mountainous areas due west of Chiang Mai. They are subsistence farmers who live at peace with nature and the forests. The Karen settled in what is termed the 'middle level' in the mountains, namely between 800 and 1,800 meters.
They were semi-nomadic people using swidden (slash and burn) farming methods, moving around on a seven year cycle. However, around 1968 the Government insisted that they must stop moving around. They were offered Thai ID and land rights if they could prove longevity. Now they are settled but their lifestyle is still influenced by their culture
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