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I picked these up sometime over the past 20 years in a China or Thai street market. They are (according to my grandmother-in-law) clothing irons, maybe Chinese, a guess based on the side design.

I would be appreciative if anyone can date it and confirm their origin.

Those are bronze charcoal irons having the form of a Chinese monk's cap. They look to be about the same age as the one shown in the image I'm including, which is late 19th or early 20th century and was collected next door to Thailand in Burma.

Hot charcoal would have been placed inside, and originally there would have been a wooden handle to protect the user from burns. The base may have some patination but still should have a uniform smoothness and sheen if they are authentic and actually have been used.

In Burma, where lots of places still lack electrification, tools like this are still in use today. I believe quite a lot of them were made in Southeast Asia as opposed to having been imported from China.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Dead on assessment, Bill! Couldn't have said it better myself.

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