UNIQUE RARE WOODEN BURMESE CARVED BIRD TEMPLE PLUMB BOB

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I have compiled a wealth of unique treasures, antiques and artworks from Asia especially Chinese antiques with a fantastic and mysterious history from travels. Japan, China, Thailand, Bali, Tibet, Burma, Cambodia, Taiwan, Philippines, Laos and Vietnam. My fascination with Asia inspired me to move here from England and become an avid Collector / buyer of Asian Oriental antique statues, carvings, bronzes, and unique objects. Other items have been from years of collecting and accumulating from estates, private collections and auctions. I offer excellent high quality and a wide variety of products ranging from Asian Antiques, Paintings & bronze goods etc. PHOTO'S OF VARIOUS HILL TRIBES FROM MY TRAVELS IN THAILAND. HILL TRIBE COUNTRY. UNIQUE RARE WOODEN BURMESE CARVED BIRD TEMPLE PLUMB BOB This is one of 3 up for auction this week, see photo's above, these are just so rare, there are no other like it on the whole internet, used in the building of old temples to make sure everything was build vertically, these 3 pieces originated from a deceased Buddhist monk and have been blessed, I and am selling them for the family. The history of the plumb bob is split by the Industrial Revolution, which doomed one usage, but created another. When early man first started building permanent settlements, someone must have realized that stone walls built truly vertical stood better than walls that leaned. Perhaps this same fellow noticed that a stone cradled in his sling caused the ropes of the sling to hang taut and straight down. By 2600 BC, we know the Egyptians had taken this concept and created the earliest surveying instruments: the plumb board, the A-Level, T-Level and plumb square. This was the first use of the plumb bob, against a wood frame that paralleled the surface being measured. The worker could then make a more precise visual judgment as to the trueness of plumb or horizontal level. These earliest bobs were stone and their shape, although often egg-like, really didn't matter. These simplest of tools remained virtually unchanged for the next 4400+ years. The invention of the spirit level, and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution that allowed the level to be manufactured, both accurately and cheaply, began the demise of the ancient plumb tools. For establishing plumb and true horizontal the level is simply a better tool. It is quicker and easier to use and just as accurate. But there is one thing the level can't do easily, and that is to transfer an exact point from one height to another. The Industrial Revolution that almost did in the plumb bob also created new uses. The precision and manufacturing capacity brought about by this surge in technology, increased the need for the accurate transfer of points in taller buildings, steel bridges, machinery installation and deeper shafts. While the shape of bobs had been tapering to a point for years, suddenly there existed a need for; and the capacity to produce efficiently highly accurate coordinate transfer devices - also known as plumb bobs. An interesting history for a tool whose only claim to fame is that it obeys the law of gravity! PLEASE NOTE Due to the size, shape and being slightly fragile, some pieces will have to be specially wrapped, boxed and insured for loss only which shows in the shipping cost, I do not intend to take any chances with these pieces, better safe than sorry, it would be heart breaking to think it arrived broken and deserves looking after. There are a lot of retired American, English, Germans etc living here in Thailand enjoying their last days in hotter tropical climes. With being out and about every day looking for items to buy I meet many foreigners living in strange out of the way places, I also do a lot of advertising in local papers etc saying I will buy any collections, Antiques and so on, things are starting to pick up, I am ge... read more

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