Marvelous Pair of Hand Carved Antique Chinese Cinnabar Vases Mounted as Lamps

Introducing an extraordinary and exceptionally rare pair of Chinese Cinnabar Carved Lacquer Vases from the Qianlong period. These monumental vases stand as magnificent examples of Ch...

Chinese cinnabar lacquer hand mirror, with floral and rustic garden fences as decoration, all carved in deep relief. Topped by a round knob also with f...

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...

This stunning Chinese hand carved cinnabar lacquered plate has Intricate lacquer carving arts of Chinese traditional archetecture and landscape design. It named The Sense of Tough, a...

This stunning Chinese hand carved cinnabar lacquered plate has Intricate lacquer carving arts of Chinese traditional Floral scene design, an original works of art in the tradition of...

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...

Large antique Chinese carved and painted cinnabar lacquer style covered round box, top decorated in relief with two fierce, scaly, slithering dragons chasing a flaming pearl amongst ...

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...

Late 19th century Chinese cinnabar carved lacquer box. The top a swirls of chrysanthemums; the sides a series of concentric squares or diamonds depending on perspective across the wh...

A large vintage Chinese red cinnabar box with deep relief carved lid depicting peonies, trees and a landscape with a palace. The round box has...