Chinese Bronze Silk Iron- possibly as early as the Han dynasty

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Chinese Bronze Silk Iron- possibly as early as the Han dynasty:
$94.34

Each region of the Orient had their own distinctive and yet similar design \"pan\" iron. Each style or type of decoration was slightly different. I believe that this is a Pekin Style. These pan-like implements were used for smoothing silks and other fabrics and are quite different from irons used in other lands. Some were heated with charcoal and others with hot sand. Smoothing was done with a circular motion. A piece of hot coal would be placed in the pan, heating the metal, than it could be used to iron silk. They were often decorated with calligraphy, geometric designs, etc. Some had elaborate handles in exotic materials, other were plain and simple. Many are found with no handles at all. This one originally did not have a handle but one was created for this in rosewood in an 18th century style.There was a large population of Chinese and other Orientals living and working in the USA and the UK during the mid to late 1800\'s, and they bought a large number of their tools and customs with them from their homeland including their ironing devices similar to this one. Each design or decoration had a special meaning, symbolism, or story.