Lot 208: Vintage Chinese Enamel Silk Iron, Butterfly

Description

This hand-painted enamel-on-copper piece is a traditional Chinese charcoal silk iron — the shallow bowl held a bed of hot coals, and its rounded underside was drawn across silk and other fine fabrics to press out wrinkles, with the tubular handle keeping the user's hand well clear of the heat. The form has remarkably deep roots: Chinese pressing tools of this basic shape date back to the Shang dynasty over 2,000 years ago, when heated bronze pans called huodou, or "fire ladles," were used the same way — the modern Chinese word for iron, yundou, still carries that ancient "heated ladle" meaning. This example dresses up the practical form with hand-painted famille rose-style decoration: a butterfly medallion in the bowl's interior, surrounded by sprays of pink, yellow, and blue blossoms that continue across the exterior and down the handle. The exposed copper rim and banding have taken on a soft verdigris patina with age. It's a nice crossover piece for collectors of Chinese export enamels, folk antiques, or early textile and domestic tools — decorative enough to display, with a great conversation-starting backstory. The underside is inked "CHINA," an export mark consistent with the early-to-mid 20th century.

Condition Report:

Good vintage condition, wear commensurate with age. The copper rim of the bowl and the metal bands on the handle show verdigris (green-toned oxidation), most visible along the rim edge in the photos. A fine hairline line is visible in the interior of the bowl near the rim, arcing down toward the painted butterfly — this may be a hairline crack or crazing in the enamel and should be checked in hand before listing. No large chips or losses to the enamel are visible; the painted decoration remains bright and intact throughout. Light scattered speckling in the white enamel ground appears original to the firing process rather than damage.

Keywords:

Chinese silk iron, enamel on copper, charcoal iron, coal pan iron, huodou, famille rose, butterfly motif, Chinese antique, hand-painted enamel, sad iron, ironing collectible, Chinese export enamel, Asian domestic antiques, verdigris patina

Dimensions: H: 2", W: 3.5", L: 6"