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Amazing 19th Century Chinese Carved CINNABAR lacquer BRACELET
From an old Yankee New England MAINE estate: descendants of a founder of pre-Colonial America (1626) and 19C family ancestors who were wealthy clipper ship owners and importers of spices and exotic goods throughout the early- to mid-1800s, which led to later family founding and running a successful wholesale grocery business in the late 19th century.
Amazing 19th Century
Chinese Carved Cinnabar
STAMP BOX
Made in China during the Qing Dynasty-Late 1890-early 1900's. Slightly domed top in an unusual narrow rectangular shape. Brought back by a spinster and wealthy great aunt who traveled the globe, where it was then used to hold postage stamps for decades!!
This aged red lacquered cinnabar box is an extraordinary piece displaying a delicately hand-carved narrative scene atop in deep relief. We always interpreted the scene thus: An elder grandfather with 3 grandsons in a garden of intricately designed boulders and trees. Their house is set in the background valley with distant mountains behind. 2 of the boys are seating while grandfather is teaching a lesson - or perhaps scolding them -- because one of the boys looks to be sneaking away!!
Of course, it could be a teacher with two students, and someone is eavesdropping on the lesson. You can form your own interpretation!
Finely lined geometric lattice background fills in the spaces of the scene.
Detailed designs are carried throughout the box on all 4 sides, ornate lozenges centered with lotus flowers against the finely lined lattice background. The lozenges are surrounded by dramatic swirling curls said to be yunqi meaning "cloud energy."
The black lacquer interior has 3 curved slots, designed to slide a stamp up and out. Today, it can hold rings, earrings, or just sit proudly as decor.
The age of this antique piece means expect typical evidence of use, handling, storage... But it's really in very fine condition considering its age!! The hinges work smoothly, and no damage to the black lacquer interior other than original dust and a minor scrape. The tiny carved applied scalloped handle is perfectly intact and unbroken! Interior is hard to photograph due to the shine. The felt bottom we think was added by a family member to protect an old 1700s slant-top desk where it served the family for decades. The right person might be able to remove it to see if there are any signatures or marks, but we suggest leaving it as-is so as not to permanently damage it.
Appx 4.5" x 1+3/8" x 1.5"
--Please see our other listings for a well- preserved Cinnabar bracelet from the same estate.
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PLEASE READ ENTIRE LISTING & VIEW ALL PHOTOS
Ask questions, Sold As-Is, No returns.
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We'd love to see someone adopt and enjoy!
We are a smoke-free home with a hypoallergenic dog (Standard Poodle) – We usually mail w/in a day or two of payment, but have 5-10 day handling for health reasons, but if you need sooner LET US KNOW right away, we will do our best to accommodate if we can
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---We combine shipping where safe to do so. Internationals, we use Ebay Global Shipping only. Many of our items are from an old Yankee New England Maine Family estate We are just plain folks looking to move things forward, not dealers, not experts, we do our best to describe but might miss something. Ask questions.
---USE PHOTOS: Pictures are part of the description. Be aware that camera flash and your color monitor can cause color difference –-Remember pics are often closeups and thus exaggerated, so use photos with ruler or coin AND/OR the description for better estimate of actual size
---Used Items: Expect typical evidence of use wear handling and/or storage.
—We’re old, moving things forward, so no returns
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ABOUT CHINESE LACQUER:
---The art of carving lacquer is unique to China, although lacquer itself has been made all across Asian countries for many centuries. Lacquer is the resin (or sap) of a family of trees (rhus verniciflua) found throughout southern China. It is an amazing material that hardens when exposed to oxygen and becomes a natural "plastic" like material that is resistant to water and can withstand heat and certain acids.
---The lacquer can be colored with different mineral pigments, including carbon for black, orpiment for yellow, and cinnabar (powdered mercury sulphide) for red. Carved lacquer is almost always executed in the red, or cinnabar, hue, which gives it the colloquial name of cinnabar lacquer.
---To create a lacquer surface that can be carved, artisans would add anywhere between thirty to two hundred layers of the lacquer onto a basic form, often boxes, vases, and other vessels. Once dried, this could be carved with exquisite detail and precision. The Chinese craftsmen who worked in cinnabar lacquer employed a number of different motifs in the elaborately carved surfaces, including full figural scenes, landscapes, floral decoration, and geometric patterns.