The Art of Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer

Lacquer is used across many Asian cultures, but carved - lacquer art is uniquely Chinese. The resin from the rhus verniciflua trees in southern China hardens in oxygen, becoming a water - resistant, heat - and - acid - tolerant natural plastic.

CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER BOWL

Lacquer was known in China during the late Neolithic period. From 600 B.C. to 200 A.D., it was an important artistic medium, colored with minerals like carbon (black), orpiment (yellow), and cinnabar (red) for painting sculptures and vessels. There's little evidence of its use from 200 to 800 A.D. Eighth - to tenth - century pieces were well - made but simple in shape and decoration.

In the 12th century, carved lacquer emerged as a luxury item. Predominantly red, it's often called "cinnabar" lacquer, named after the red colorant.

A Rare red Cinnabar Lacquer Dish

A rare Chinese red cinnabar lacquer dish, 16th / 17th century. Crisply carved with a central panel containing six pomegranates, three split to reveal their seeds, and growing on a leafy tree which issues from a single stem, the border and reverse with continuous peony bands of flowerheads and foliage, all on a complex diaper ground, minor restoration, 29.5cm.

Like all lacquer items, carved pieces have a wood base. For carved - lacquer, many layers (30 - 35, sometimes 200) are applied to a box - or dish - shaped substructure, dried in air, then carved. This creates geometric motifs, nature - enjoying figures, and flower - flitting birds. Early pieces had yellow and green layers among the red for depth, against a plain background. Late 14th - and 15th - century lacquers had detailed, carved backgrounds with different geometric designs for earth, water, and sky. A related technique carves thin lines in a red background, filled with gold, gold powder, or tinted lacquer.

Chinese Qing Dynasty Lacquerware Moon Vase