Floral Cast Iron Tub

China is the earliest known civilization to work with cast iron, appearing in artifacts made thousands of years ago during the illustrious Zhou dynasty. Expanding upon techniques perfected long ago, the Shanxi province craftsman who made this 19th-century cast iron tub lavishly decorated it with floral patterns in low relief. Dramatic ring handles and dragon-inspired feet bear the expressive faces of guardian fu lion dogs. Used in Qing-dynasty homes to collect rain water, the tub has since developed a rich, rust-brown patina that only adds to its time-honored beauty. The iron vessel is outfitted with a drainage plug on its side and would be a wonderful planter in a modern garden.