Large Domed Chinese Cinnabar Box

A fine antique Chinese red cinnabar lacquer lidded round box carved with a scene with a young boy and a seated elderly bearded sage within a rocky landscape with trees. The "dragon's...

A crisply carved antique Chinese red cinnabar lacquer lidded round box with blue enamel interior and brass fittings. The "dragon's blood" trinket box has a fine peony, foliate and fl...

Very striking larger oil painting on canvas laid down on Masonite with gilt background depicting Buddha in a seated position on a giant lotus flower. The flower represents a symbol of fortune, meaning rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. The painting is believed to be of Bhaajyaguru, the Buddha of healing and medicine, commonly referred to as the "Medicine Buddha...

Tall Italian handmade ceramic horse sculpture in the vibrant signature blue of Aldo Londi's iconic art pottery collection Rimini Blu, originally designed in 1959 for Bitossi Ceramich...

Interesting element probably coming from a lacquered and gilded wood furniture or panel representing a tripod - shaped vase with curved legs with...

A Magnificent Set of Three Antique Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Vases/cashepots/flower pots; with Gorgeous Chinese Carved Decoration. Thi...

Wajima lacquer model of a five story-pagoda by the contemporary lacquer master Miyasaki Masahiro. In the original signed box, including a wooden disp...

This intriguing Chinese zhadou is intricately carved of fine cinnabar lacquer. A work of exceptional artistry, this covered bowl is adorned with an intricately carved floral motif on all surfaces, including the cover and the wide rim. Also known as a cuspidor or spittoon, this rare container would have been used by members of the imperial family and scholar- officials at the court. Carved during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), this charming piece exhibits the high detail and charm associated with items from that period, making it a true treasure, Early 18th century (Kangxi dynasty) Measures: 6 ¼” wide x 3 ¼” high Cinnabar has been revered for its color all over the world. It has been found in the royal burial chambers of the Mayas, in the rituals of India, and in the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. In China, cinnabar and gold were the two most important elements in alchemy. Mined since the Neolithic Age, cinnabar is the ore of mercury, and as such, it can be incredibly toxic, especially when mining. In fact, during the Roman Empire, miners at Spain’s Almadén mine in Spain were frequently exposed to mercury fumes, and the subsequent, often fatal, sickness was considered an occupational hazard. The most popular known use of cinnabar is in Chinese carved lacquer-ware, a technique that is believed to have originated in the Song Dynasty, in which cinnabar is ground to a powder and added to clear lacquer. As with mining, there was inherent danger of mercury poisoning for those who carved the lacquer, as mercury was also released into the air when artisans ground the pigments. Most antique cinnabar...