Cinnabar beads (antique)

Cinnabar is a colorful mineral that adds a unique color to the mineral color palette. Its cinnamon to scarlet red color can be very attractive. Well shaped crystals are uncommon and the twinned crystals are considered classics among collectors.

Genuine cinnabar is a rock type mineral, which was carved and made into jewelery for a short period of time, centuries ago in the Far East.

It is no longer produced as it was quickly realized that the main constituent is mercury – which is a powerful neurotoxin.

This is also the substance (mercury)which used to be sucked up into bead tubes to ‘silver’ line the beads by cottage workers in Bohemia. Cinnabar (the mineral) in its rough state can vary from bright scarlet to brick red.

What is sold now, and what is often termed ‘real’ Cinnabar, is actually carved lacquered wood or with modern items, resin.

The art of ‘tsuishu’ (carved cinnabar) is a fascinating and highly labor-intensive technique, developed in China many centuries ago. Many types of articles were produced, although the number of bangles made, was relatively few. This type of cinnabar has nothing to do with the toxic mineral.

Origin and History
It is an historical pigment but surprisingly not found in ancient Egyptian or early Mesopotamian objects. It was well known to the Romans and widely used in China since the third millennium B.C.

Source
Cinnabar is a red crystalline form of mercuric sulfide, a red mineral of secondary origin, occurring in the oxidized zones of copper veins. Cinnabar has the highest refractive index of any other known mineral, its mean index for sodium light being 3.256, while the index for diamond¡ªa substance of remarkable refraction¡ªis only 2.42. It was mined by the Romans for its mercury content and it has been the main ore of mercury throughout the centuries. Some mines used by the Romans are still being mined today. Cinnabar is found in all localities which yield mercury notably Almaden, Spain; Idrija, Slovenia; Landsberg, near Ober-Moschel in the Palatinate; Ripa, at the foot of the Apuan Alps, Tuscany; the mountain Avala, Serbia; Huancavelica, Peru; Kweichow and Hunan Provinces, China; Doneckaia region, Ukraine; and California, Oregon, Texas, and Arkansas, USA.

Jewelery for myself

 This is an antique set of cat's eye glass. It is an original that came from an estate of my husbands aunts or cousins of his mom's.

I have had them so many years and they were so poorly strun with no matching earrings to them. they have been boxes.

This week they were strung and a set of earrings to match.

The image does not do them justice they have a very deep luster.

Then just for me to match a sweater I purchased last month...

An autumn set in my  in summer tones.

backed in silver a duel strand...

 

 Lobster claps for ease

The chain stops the issue of it getting tangled in my hair on the nap of my neck.

 

Walla!

Just for me.

Finding good balance at this type of strand is a trick.

It must be strung and not finishe at the end until after it hangs.

The trick is similar to hemming a dress that the fabric needs to relax over night.

Leaving give for the curve and using two cable lengths keeping them from crossing when center finding is passed through.

 

Asymmetry is key to balence it.

Asymmetry has always been hard for me to feel.

This sits very pretty on my neck with a V neck top.

It is acrylic except the glass leaves and the sterling silver.

Acrylic helps keep this type of work light weight.

They can become heavy with other types of medium.

In process

By letting it hang and setting it to form the wire will tell the length and the balance between the four strands. You can not go by count alone.

 

That neck line really is not that plunging.

The display and I have well... different endowment.

Special Orders, a few findings and choices

If anyone is interested I do take some special orders.
There are many items in stock as well.

Denise O. here is what I thought you may like to choose from.

Here are some types of earring findings hoops, posts,locking,crimp French, French and my old favorite for delicacy the hook closure.

As per your request and interests here is what I pulled out with you in mind.

To the right several singles.
cat brooch

Cabochon semi precious tones on silver

Some I had made I thought perhaps might interest you.
The cats eye blue one can have a moon attached with the planet removed if your interested.

These are lanyards except for the pink and yellow they fall into winter.

Other considerations would be your price point.
What type of bead?
stone
glass
acrylic or wood(very light weight)
I have a few crystals
pearl or shell

labels part 3