Rare, Chinese carved cinnabar double gourd vase. crafted in a shape of double gourd resemblance, with two bulbous bellies conjoined together, suspending a tall cylindrical neck, bulbous lower section finishing into a slender bottleneck at the top, with a narrow opening, supported on short foot ring. Delicately decorated the thousands layers of reddish-orange lacquer, or cinnabar exterior is finely carved in relief to depict a scene showing double ground bottle hanging in sturdy tree interspersed with vines and foliage, all showing the magnificent landscape covered the surface. Auspicious pattern on the mid center and on the foot base ring. The Under-base bears a reign mark, a carved four gilt script script characters reign mark, Made of the years Qianlong Reign Period.Measurements: 24-1/2" H x 11-1/4" WLOT NOTES: In China, the double-gourd or bottle-gourd, Hulu, has traditionally provided a very popular form for vases and ewers. In addition to their attractive shape, bottle-gourds are associated with a number of auspicious wishes, good fortune and wealth. Cinnabar is an orange-red mineral of mercury (mercuric sulfide). It has been associated with alchemy and magic in both China and Europe from the earliest times. This is because when heated it gives off hydrogen sulfide and produces shiny, liquid metal - mercury - as if by magic. In China this transformation suggested properties connected to immortality, so some Emperors may have been poisoned by taking cinnabar elixirs (as mercuric compounds are poisonous). The Elixir of the Immortals Xian dan was also said to contain cinnabar. Many European alchemists believed all metals were made up of a mixture of cinnabar and sulfur. The English name comes from the Persian name Zinjifrah ‘dragon’s blood’. In Daoist belief there is a cinnabar zone just below the navel that is a key location in meditation. The rich orange-red color of Cinnabar was used to make the vermillion ink which was used solely by the Emperor. Cinnabar used to provide dye for the red wax used for making the ‘chop’ (seal) marks on almost all old documents and paintings. When added to lacquer it makes the characteristic red color for intricate lacquer-work . The color is similar to the bark of the Cinnamon and Cassia trees. The double ground is very fine, with a brilliant cinnabar finish that was applied by a meticulous, the shape is uniformly proportioned.