VINTAGE CHINESE BLACK AND RED CINNABAR CARVED LACQUER BRASS VASE 31CM HIGH

AN ATTRACTIVE CINNABAR CARVED LACQUER (RESIN OF THE LACQUER TREE) VASE. THE VASE HAS A BRASS BASE AND WEIGHS A HEFTY 1,8KG.

MOST FREQUENTLY, THIS ART FORM WAS DONE IN CHINA WITH ONLY ONE COLOR OF LACQUER, USUALLY RED. IN THIS DECORATIVE PIECE, THE GROUND LAYERS ARE RED, AND THE TOP LAYERS ARE BLACK, STIKINGLY CONTRASTING THE RED GROUND IN HIGH RELIEF. THE BLACK COLOUR IS CLEARLY HAND APPLIED.
  
THE RED LAYERS ARE CARVED IN A CLASSIC CHINESE GEOMETRIC DESIGN, WHILE THE BLACK LAYERS ARE BEAUTIFULLY CARVED USING HAND CHISELS BY THE ARTIST IN REALISTIC FLORAL AND STYLIZED ART NOUVEAU GEOMETRIC CURVES.
  
THE VASE HAS A BRASS BASE TO WHICH THE LACQUER WAS APPLIED. CONDITION IS VERY GOOD WITH NO DAMAGES THAT I CAN SEE.
  
CARVED LACQUER:
LACQUER IS THE RESIN (OR SAP) OF A FAMILY OF TREES (RHUS VERNICIFLUA) FOUND THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CHINA. IT IS AN AMAZING MATERIAL (THICK AND TRANSPARENT) THAT HARDENS WHEN EXPOSED TO OXYGEN AND BECOMES A NATURAL RESIN.
Lacquer was an important artistic medium from the sixth century B.C. to the second century A.D. and was OFTEN COLORED WITH MINERALS SUCH AS CARBON (BLACK), ORPIMENT (YELLOW), AND CINNABAR (RED) and used to paint the surfaces of sculptures and vessels. In the twelfth century, however, a new class of luxury lacquer objectscarved lacquerappeared. Carved lacquer, which is predominantly red, is often known as "cinnabar" lacquer, a reference to the use of this powdered mercury sulphide as the primary colorant.
LIKE ALL LACQUER OBJECTS, CARVED PIECES HAVE A BASE THAT IS USUALLY MADE OF TURNED WOOD OR BRASS METAL: IT IS THE LACQUER THAT IS WORKED AND NOT THE UNDERLYING MATERIAL.
Traditionally, Chinese cinnabar lacquer has been made by applying layers after layers of lacquer then hand carved by skilled artisans until mid 20th century. Each layer of lacquer has to dry before another layer can be coated. IT WAS COMMON TO TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO A YEAR TO FINISH A PIECE.
Due to the harm raw lacquer brings to its handlers skin, most modern cinnabar lacquer wares are made from cinnabar lacquer resin moulds. The surface of the wares is hand carved and decorated with chisels to give it a human touch.
  
SIZE: 31CM HIGH 15CM DIAMETER AT WIDEST
WEIGHT 1,8KG
CONDITION: NO CHIPS. NO CRACKS. IN GOOD CONDITION.