Indian Weighing or Scale Pan with Suspension Chain

Riveted cauldron dangles from an iron hoop, looking ready for a campfire.

This iron scale pan with suspension chain is from India, and dates to the 20th century. Iron is strong and inexpensive, which made it a practical choice for the pans, chains and hooks of everyday trade scales, though it needs protection from rust. Round-bottomed pot in dark, patchy brown metal, built up from joined plates with a band of rivets near the base. A forged hook-shaped bail with a ring and chain links lifts it from above, and the rim is slightly uneven. It is 10 inches wide, 10 deep and 17 high.

Rough hands made it, and rough use only helped.