Shogun Oriental Arts #12 - Japanese & Chinese Cinnabar

[@RogerSchwendeman]

Nice introduction video. One small correction: Carved lacquer dates (like guri lacquer) confidently back to at least the song dynasty (perhaps earlier) so we are talking roughly 1000 years. 😊

[@chaddsteinberg3758]

Dragon claws/toes have a lot to do with status in ancient china. 3 toes on objects was common, 4 toes on objects was for powerful individuals and those close to the Emperor, the 5 toes is by far the rarest and most valuable and those objects were meant for the Imperial palace and the Emperor himself. As time went on it became less strict and you could have a 5,4,3 clawed dragon and it was done for aesthetics and sold to anyone.

[@RogerSchwendeman]

Correct - thank you for pointing this out.

[@Mollypopithelen]

I remember reading that the mythological Chinese dragon was said to lose its toes if it left China. So the further away he flew from China the more toes it would lose. Hence Chinese dragons have 5 toes, Japanese have 4 toes and Taiwan etc. have 3 or 2 toes. However, Japanese say that the dragon originated there, not China and that when the dragon flew away from Japan its number of toes increased which is why Chinese dragons have more toes than Japanese dragons.

[@susana5505]

I've got a cinnabar vase, it has a clay ball inside the vase, the ball is to large to fit out the neck of the vase. Have you seen this before?

[@bib51]

Hi. Does anybody know how to clean Cinnabar ? I have many vases and other things, but I don't know how to keep them clean. I mean the dust that goes between what is engraved. Can I use water ? I see that several of the figures he shows in the video also have a lot of dust on them. And it's the same thing I have on mine, which I want to clean.

[@savedbygrace2397]

I read that cinnabar is full of mercury. Are these pieces safe?

[@voo676]

Technically, yes and no it's made from mercury sulfate it deteriorates over time from what I read. But you can use it for jewlery and pottery as far as I'm aware atleast

[@olofneppelberg2896]

The chinese did 3 an 4-clawed dragons to

[@juditharroyo5065]

I have a small carved base similar to the base that have blue and the gold top, It is red with many beautiful details, I want to sell

[@mamamilo6303]

❤❤❤🌹👌

[@backback1137]

Are they handmade, how ?

[@rfn74]

I believe they are carved. from wood.

[@backback1137]

@@rfn74 Thank you, it can't be wood, the paint is completely red, inside too, we need photos from the factory 😀

[@rfn74]

@@backback1137 This is from online ; Common substrates used for lacquer in Japan are the wood of the hinoki (Japanese cypress) tree, the elm, and quince trees. Metal was often used as a base for lacquer, especially in armor. Frequently an organic layer was used between lacquer and metal, making the finished object particularly sensitive to fluctuations in relative humidity. A variety of other substrates known include, bamboo, fabric, paper, leather (shipi, shaped rawhide used in Japan), and ceramics (only in the earliest known examples (3000 - 2000 BCE, and in the last 100 years used only as a repair method). Organics, such as gourds, ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn and shell were incorporated as decorations (Webb 2000).

[@RogerSchwendeman]

@@backback1137 In addition to thin wood, metal and leather (all mentioned in the comment below)​ there is also a kind of substrate where the a layer of ash mixed with lacquer is built up and then worked to the desired shape. Once finished it is then further refined and given several coats of lacquer. This technique is called "dui hong" (opposite - red). It approximates the look and feel of carved lacquer but is a faster technique. Not sure if this occurred in Japan as well or perhaps only in China. I included a link to an example from Bonhams in the comment below to RN if you want to have a look. :)

[@phdragon34]

Is it safe to handle? Is it toxic?