Posted 13 years ago
Lizr25
(5 items)
I found this at an Estate Sale..It does have "CHINA" etched on the back deep into the metal. I do not feel this is the "typical made in china" item as we see everyday. It is heavy and beautiful...has inlaid stones that are real.
This is a Chineese coal iron. They would put hot coals in it and run the bottom of the pan over the fabric. These were popular tourist export items. I think yours is probably pre world war 2. Posssibly 1900-1940. Don't polish it, it will ruin the patina and any value.
Thank you rocker-sd. You are so very helpful. I will just leave it alone and not polish it. I bought it because I love rocks/Gemstones...which I also collect.
I put this on my Facebook page today and gave friends 8 hours to tell me what they think this item is...it was lots of fun...no one guessed correctly but some of the answers were..bed warmer..wine tasting tool, soup bowl, oil dipper, water dipper, ash remover for a fire place and a pot to melt metal in...