China is the world’s biggest producer of silk, making over 800,000 tons per year. But their traditional methods have changed little in the last 5,000 years.

Delicate, lustrous, and soft to the touch. The ethereal fabric that we now call silk has threaded its way throughout China's history.

In her latest book, On the Noodle Road, author Jen Lin-Liu chronicles a six-month journey along the historic Silk Road from eastern China, through central Asia, Turkey, Iran and eventually ...

A. Your piece is a Chinese silk iron or pan iron, enameled on gilt-washed brass. The Chinese were perhaps the earliest to actually iron clothing, with some records dating back to the 12th century.