Post Qing Dynasty Cinnabar Ginger Jar & Stand

19th C. Chinese Figural Carved Wood Lacquer Scholars/ Offering / Opium Stand Chinese 19th Century A truly unique and remarkable piece from 19th-century China, this figural carved w...

Large Chinese Export red lacquer character box, sculptural, well executed Chinese two part lacquer table box. Decorated with vines, symbols and bats. Unmarked.

Unique Pair of Chinese Carved Cinnabar Vase, Same Shape, Different Decoration, China, Cultural Revolution Period 1966-1976 The vases are accompani...

Pair of Chinese Modernist Red Cloisonné Ginger Jars and Stands, Circa 1960s China, 20th Century A stunning pair of Chinese Modernist red cloi...

Chinese brown ochre green glazed stoneware vinegar storage jar. Decorative with god, natural patina. Historically these jars were used to ferment and store vinegar in a Qing-dynasty...

A late Qing Dynasty Chinese large Baluster Famille Rose "Hundred Antiques" Jar, A multitude of decorative objects and flowers in polychrome enamels and ...

This Pickling Jar was once used to pickle eggs and features a wonderful array of hand-painted motifs which include birds, foliage and other subtle symbols and patterning. The hand-pa...

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...