Chinese Silk Iron / Grain Scoop / Ladle, Brass & Wood Handle, Double Happiness, Vintage

• Pattern: Double Happiness (shuāngx)
• Made in China
• Vintage:  1950's or earlier
• Details:  This is a very old sculptural brass Chinese silk iron in very good vintage condition.  Estate Sale find from an Asian artifacts collector.  It is decorated with round double happiness symbols on the brass and has a well worn, gorgeous wood handle.  Sometimes these irons are called Grain Scoops or Ladles and they can certainly be used for that, but they were originally designed as Kimono irons.  The cup has a very nice fluted edge and it's shorter in the front, and higher in the back.  Unique home decor, would be a great addition to a bookshelf or curio.  Excellent gift for an Asian collector.
• Material: Brass, Wood
• Dimensions:  3.5 inches Tall (at its tallest point), 11 3/8 inches Long and  5.0 inches Wide.
• Condition:  Vintage- Used.  Very Good Vintage Condition.  There is some oxidation as would be expected in an old brass item, the wood handle shows cracks and lots of distress, but that is acceptable and most wanted in old pieces.  Please review all pictures and make sure you love this item before purchasing, we can't accept returns.  Please remember these are VINTAGE and ANTIQUE items, they are NOT new, every effort has been made to show scratches, wear and tear and imperfections.  

This is a silk iron (primarily used for ironing Kimonos).  The hot coals would be placed inside the round "ladle" part of the piece and the flat part would be moved across the silk to iron it without snagging it.  The thin brass foot would ensure the cup would be stable and not spill the hot coals when resting.  The Double Happiness symbol is a Chinese traditional ornament design, commonly used as a decoration symbol of marriage. Outside of China, it is also used in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.  This symbol is also often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom. The color of the character is usually red, occasionally black.