This balance scale was designed and created by Leon Lacousiere of Delmas, Saskatchewan and was part of his personal collection. In 1987 the Government was looking for art work to be presented at “The Commonwealth Heads of Government” meeting in Vancouver. Leon’s name was presented as a craftsman with artwork suitable for this occasion and this piece was accepted as part of the show. It’s delicate beauty and immaculate, precise workmanship belies a sad story attached to this first public showing. For reasons that have never been explained or understood this piece was labeled with a tag that read: “Artist: Unknown”. This mistake was even more puzzling because the shipping box is clearly labeled with Leon’s name and address and he received the object back at the end of the show. It must have been a terrible let down for Leon to have such a wonderfully made object sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office without his name attached to the piece.

On a somewhat lighter note, the piece generated some excitement when, at a later date it was to journey across the U.S.A. border to be in an art show in Southern California. The individual carrying the scales was questioned at length by border officials who were convinced the scales were drug trafficking paraphernalia. After some time and phone calls to Leon, who was able to vouch that it was indeed a work of art and not a drug dealers weigh scale, the representative was free to go.