A BRONZE SILK IRON, LATE QING DYNASTY

拍品描述

A BRONZE SILK IRON, LATE QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The tapering body supported on a splayed foot and rising to an asymmetrical lobed rim, applied with a tubular handle, and decorated with a raised bowstring following the contours of the body and rim. The bronze bearing a dark patina. Dimensions: Length 20.2 cm Silk plates such as the present example were designed to hold charcoal or hot sand within the rounded, ladle-shaped vessel. The flat brass foot allowed for smooth, circular movements across the silk, enabling the fabric to be pressed without snagging. It also ensured the vessel remained stable when at rest, preventing the hot contents from spilling. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze iron, China, late 18th century, 20.3 cm wide, in the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, object number 85.089.008. Compare a related bronze flatiron, China, 18th-19th century, 18.7 cm wide, in the Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, object number 1945.134.

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