Nesting Weights

These curious looking containers were made to house nesting weights; small cup-shaped weights that could be stacked on top of each other would have been stored inside, thus providing a conveniently portable set of weights. A lot of them were produced in Nuremberg in the post-medieval period, and were used by apothecaries and other tradesmen to measure coins.

With us for treatment we have (below, from left to right) one possible inner weight, one lid and two cases. They each have a different number and motif stamped on the outside.  

Nesting weight outer cases.

Nesting weight outer case lid, showing stamped number and motif

When they came to our conservation lab, the nesting weights were soiled and showed some signs of corrosion. Our conservation team removed the dirt and active corrosion using small hand tools, after which they were stabilized and lacquered to protect against future corrosion.

Above & below - Nesting weight outer cases, before (left) & after (right) conservation

Above - Nesting weight, before (left) & after (right) conservation