Pair of cinnabar lamps with brass base and pull cords
Origin unknown, family heirloom. We believe they were once vases co vented into lamps, but we are unsure. One half of one of pair has slight sun bleaching. (See photos) This is a lamp base made from what looks like a Chinese cinnabar vase that has been converted into a lamp. About the Scene The red lacquer is intricately carved in high relief, showing traditional Chinese landscapes: Figures in robes are depicted walking or conversing among mountains, trees, and clouds. The rocky outcrops and winding trees are classic motifs symbolizing harmony with nature. These scenes often represent scholars, sages, or immortals enjoying leisure in a garden or mountain retreat — a common theme in cinnabar work. About the Lamp The body is likely cinnabar lacquer over a brass or bronze base, mounted on a footed stand with lion’s paw feet. The brass fittings and double bulb sockets suggest it was electrified in the mid-20th century (likely 1940s–1960s).
Height from finnial to base 34 1/2" Diameter of base 6" Height of base 3" Hight of cinnabar 16 1/2"
Inherited
Yes
Hello, this item is a pair of Chinese cinnabar lacquer vases that have been converted into table lamps, mounted on brass bases with lion’s paw feet. Each vase is richly decorated with deeply carved red lacquer, depicting scholars and figures in a mountainous landscape with trees and clouds, motifs that symbolize harmony with nature and longevity. The cinnabar lacquer is applied in multiple layers over a metal core, a labor-intensive technique perfected in China from the Ming dynasty onward and continued into the 20th century. The brass fittings and double bulb sockets suggest the conversion was carried out in the mid-20th century, likely between the 1940s and 1960s, when such adaptations were popular for Western interiors.
The pair remains well-preserved, with only minor fading visible on one lamp from sun exposure. While originally decorative vases, their repurposing into lamps is typical of the period and adds functional appeal today. In the collectors’ market, cinnabar vases converted into lamps usually sell in the €800 to €1,500 range for the pair, depending on condition and quality of carving. Higher prices, up to €2,000, may be achieved if the carving is particularly fine or if provenance is documented. These examples, with their detailed relief scenes and intact lacquer, fall in the stronger part of the market range.
