Dumbbells are not normally considered pretty objects, but somehow these little 1KG weights from the 1930s defy that idea. Despite the chipped paint on the iron, they’re in remarkably good condition. The red stained wooden handles don’t show much of a patina, which suggests they’ve rarely been used. This is not so surprising as it’s hard to imagine what such dainty weights could be used for. Curiously, they’re stamped on the inside with ‘B SGDG’ which refers to ‘Breveté Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement’. This was a kind of French patent without government guarantees, it ceased to exist in 1968.