Vintage from the 1900s
What a unique tray...Vintage 20th Century White Carved Cinnabar Resin Tray. The history behind these beautiful pieces of art is very interesting. Cinnabar is often used to describe a Chinese style of carved, vermilion-colored lacquer. While most cinnabar objects are a deep scarlet hue, other lacquer colors can be achieved with different minerals. Though Chinese lacquerware had been produced since the 3rd century BC, carved lacquer was first introduced around the 14th century during the Ming dynasty. Lacquer was traditionally made using the resin or sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum family of trees found in southern China. Many successive layers of lacquer would be applied to a base structure, which was often made from wood, until the surface could be carved into complex geometric or figural forms. Cinnabar being carved today usually has no permanent mark other than paper labels. I'm not sure of this tray's origin but it is an interesting piece to hang! The piece is 14 x 12 at it's widest point and 1 3/4" in depth. The tray is free of nicks or any expected wear.