NUREMBERG WEIGHT PILE DITE PILE DE CHARLEMAGNE, FIRST HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY In bronze, engraved with scrolls, flowers and fleurons. The closure and its reinforcement are formed by two sea horses; the hinge and its double reinforcement are decorated with crocodiles or sea monsters; the reinforcements are riveted to the lid. The bezel pillars feature outward-facing mermaids; the movable grip is formed by two stylized, confronting snake or crocodile bodies, holding the central cabochon in their mouths. The stack contains twelve interlocking cups; the body features several decorative registers. Marked on the top: 16 (corresponding to its weight in marcs), Master pendulum mark: PI and three leaf marks. Nuremberg, first half of 18th century Le solitaire probably reported Height: 20 cm From the 16th to the 18th century, Nuremberg's workshops were major manufacturers of bucket batteries, exported throughout Europe and then calibrated according to the customs of the destination country. In France, they were adjusted to the "poids de marc", the legal weight for gold, silver and coins. The numbers inscribed on the bottom of the cups, such as "16, 8, 4, 2, 1" were "Ioth" numbers, a German unit of mass equivalent to half an ounce.