Gigantic 19th Century Cinnabar Dragon Vase and Cabinet
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Rare exhibition size 19th century cinnabar twin handled vase, stand and display cabinet, of huge proportions, with a waisted neck above a tapering body, decorated with panels of dragons amongst wave scrolls, with Dogs of Fo amongst flowers verso, surrounded by a heavy ground of flowers and foliage, flanked by large dragon handles, upon a stand with petalled and wave scroll borders, the whole within a double sided cabinet on paw feet, height of vase 108 cm and cabinet 172 cm x 91 cm x 59.5 cm
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- Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
- Foo Dogs - Foo Dogs, also known as "Fo Dogs", "Fu Dogs", and " Buddhist lions" are the Chinese guardian lions that have traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces and tombs, government offices, and the homes of the influential are believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits.
They are a popular motif in decorative arts, especially ceramics and garden statuary, where they are depicted in pairs, comprising of a male resting his paw upon an embroidered ball, representing supremacy over the world, and a female restraining a playful cub, representing the nurturing properties of the female. - Cinnabar - Cinnabar is an intense deep red colouring agent that has been in use for thousands of years, derived from crystalised red mercuric suphide. It is made into a coating by grinding ore into a fine powder then mixing the powder with lacquer made from the sap of the Rhus tree, which grows in East Asia.
As applied to Oriental antiques, cinnabar refers to successive layers of laquer applied to the metal base of an object. Once the coating has dried and hardened, a further layer is applied. The layers continue to be applied until the thickness is 3 to 6 mm, and this may take up to 200 to 300 coats. At this stage, the surface is ready for the carving, that is characteristic of cinnabar items.
Because of the labour required, cinnabar items are usually small, such as vases, boxes, trays and snuff bottles.
However buyers should be aware that the cinnabar technique has been copied using modern plastic type materials that are moulded rather than carved. A close examination of a genuine cinnabar item under a strong magnifying glass or jewellers loupe should show evidence of the many layers that make up its thickness, and possibly tool marks left by the carver.
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