Red Cinnabar Black Onyx Beaded Necklace Fine Vtg Chinese Carved Beads 28" 108g

Description

Red Cinnabar Black Onyx Beaded Necklace Fine Vtg Chinese Carved  Beads 28" 108g
The main pendant and 6 round beads, is real Cinnabar and is
hand carved.
The main pendant
2 1/8" in Diameter x 1/2" thick.
Strung in sterling silver wire clear coated wonderfully balanced in unison.
6 Cinnabar hand carved beads all 6 are 5/8" in diameter.
This is a very exquisite and well made statement piece.
The real Black Onyx beads are as follows;
18 onyx beads @ 7/16" Dia.
24 onyx beads @ 1/4" Dia.
26 onyx beads @ 1/8" Dia.
Separated by very small onxy beads.
The use of lacquer was developed in China about 3000-2500 BC.
Organic lacquer is formed from a natural resin.
The most common source is the sap of the so-called lacquer or lac tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum),
which grows in central and eastern Asia.
Once removed from the tree, the sap hardens when exposed to air.
Some of the first uses of lacquer were to make clay vessels watertight and as a preservative for wood.
Eventually coloring agents–like cinnabar–were added and lacquer begin to be used for decorative
effects including carving.