By BI Weizi

The hand warmer, a small, often square or round mini portable furnace filled with burning charcoal, with a hollow lid on top, is one of the innovative winter heating devices used in ancient China. Usually made of copper or enamel, the hand warmer could fit in the hand or be placed in the sleeve for heating, similar to the heating pads used today.

Hand warmers have long been used by Chinese. A copper hand warmer from the Warring States Period is on display at the Hunan Provincial Museum. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, hand warmers were widely used in the palace, made with exquisite craftsmanship and beautiful shapes.

Ancient hand warmers had a variety of designs. Round, square and octagonal shapes are typical, with some shaped like pumpkins, flowers and turtle shells. The charcoal used for heating was also often pressed into flower shapes together with fragments of incense that emitted a pleasant fragrance when burned.

Structurally, the hand warmer consists of four parts: outer layer, inner compartment, top lid and handle. The outer layer is made of colorful wood. The inner copper compartment stores the burning charcoal. The top lid is a hollow net woven with copper wire, which not only provides ventilation allowing the charcoal to burn, but also prevent sparks from flying out. The heat generated by the hot charcoal is transferred to the copper inner compartment, and then to the wooden outer layer, providing warmth for the user.

The hand warmer's artistic shape and practical functions reflect the aesthetic taste and innovation of ancient Chinese, and also embodies the excellent manufacturing skills of the craftsmen.