| Lacquerware is any object that has been coated | | | | and the toxicity of the mineral was known in |
| with lacquer, a substance that produces a very | | | | ancient China, for only slaves and convicts were |
| hard and durable finish. Lacquer is resistant to | | | | used to mine it. Antique cinnabar lacquerware in |
| water damage, acid and abrasion. The most | | | | existence usually has been coated with a clear |
| common type of lacquer comes from a specific | | | | protective coating that prevents mercury from |
| type of tree, called the lac or varnish tree. When | | | | leaching out of it, and handling of it is held to a |
| the tree is the proper size and age, slices are | | | | minimum. These antiques are not on regular |
| made into the bark and the sap is collected. Great | | | | display, as they are photosensitive and natural or |
| care is taken while doing this, as any contact | | | | artificial light can cause the piece to turn brown. |
| made between the raw sap and human skin can | | | | While the name is still used, there is no cinnabar in |
| cause serious skin irritation. The art of | | | | modern cinnabar lacquerware, It has been |
| lacquerware has been practiced in China and Japan | | | | replaced by non-toxic pigments that emulate (but |
| since before the modern era. It has also been | | | | do not duplicate) the color of the original. |
| practiced in other areas, notably India. Indian | | | | The creation of a cinnabar lacquerware piece |
| lacquer is sometimes made from the secretions | | | | begins with application of coats of lacquer onto |
| of a specific type of insect, rather than the sap | | | | the foundation of the piece. Up to 500 coats of |
| of the varnish tree. | | | | lacquer are applied, according to the style of the |
| Cinnabar lacquerware is a very distinctive type. | | | | artwork to be carved and the size of the piece. |
| Lacquer can be applied without pigments added, | | | | Each coating of lacquer is applied, and allowed to |
| and results in the piece having a translucent finish. | | | | dry before the next is applied. It can literally take |
| With Cinnabar laquerware, a pigment is added to | | | | years for a piece to receive the needed coats of |
| get the deep red color that is called Cinnabar, or | | | | lacquer. |
| China Red. | | | | Once the piece has the desired layers of lacquer, |
| The name of this type comes from the mineral | | | | a highly skilled artisan carves the ornate designs |
| called cinnabar. This mineral was ground into a | | | | into the lacquer that cinnabar lacquerware is noted |
| pigment, added to the lacquer and gave the piece | | | | for. The tools of the artisan must be sharp, and |
| a deep red color. Cinnabar is the mineral mercuric | | | | his skills proficient, for the lacquer is very hard. |
| sulfide, and was also used in thermometers years | | | | Sometimes layers of different colors of lacquer |
| ago. As this name implies, the metal mercury is | | | | have been applied, and the artisan has to carve at |
| present in the mineral, and when true cinnabar | | | | the required depth to bring out the contrasting |
| was used as a pigment, there was a real danger | | | | colors. While ancient cinnabar consisted of most |
| of mercury poisoning from just handling the | | | | any type and size of object, modern cinnabar |
| finished lacquerware. Mercury was also released | | | | items are usually beads for jewelry, small boxes, |
| into the air when artisans ground the pigments, | | | | plates, trays or other small items. |