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I have a piece that's been darkened by too much exposure to sunlight. Does anyone know how to clean off the dark surface? Someone has suggested using methylated spirits, but I'm not sure of that.

The first thing to consider is that cinnabar is a highly toxic ore of mercury, so it is my impression that in the past century or so, very few Chinese arts & crafts made for export and called "cinnabar" have actually contained it. Instead, other red pigments have been mixed into or painted on the variety of molded lacquer, plastics and resin trays, plates, boxes and other made-in-China stuff that keeps foreign consumers happily and healthily coming back for more.

Also, unless you are sure there's something red hiding beneath the black, your effort to clean it off with any kind of solvent may just ruin the piece completely. Most "cinnabar" items I've seen with a darkened surface got it from being displayed in a spot that was too hot, like by a heater, and not especially in sunlight, which tends to bleach colors.

If the piece is of great intrinsic or sentimental value, I'd suggest inquiring of an expert, such as a restorer of picture frames, to see if you can identify the actual composition of the piece. Then you should have an idea whether it can be cleaned safely, or if you simply should restore the finish with a fresh coat of red lacquer.

Good luck,

Bill H.

Thanks for your feedback. I very much appreciate the time and effort.

I did, however, state that I have a carved-cinnabar piece, and it should be assumed that I know what I have; I actually have many real cinnabar pieces of all ages. Lest others be mislead by your comments, perhaps I should point out a few things:

(a) Although real cinnabar does indeed have elements of mercury, and mercury is generally toxic, the amounts involved in carved lacquer are generally too small to be harmful. (As a general rule, any poison requires certain amounts in order to be effective.)

(b) I don't know what to make of your assumption that the piece in question is some "fake" export piece, which is actually not the case. At any rate, the carving of real cinnabar pieces actually continued well into the 20th Century. Take a look at, for example, the last pieces discussed in Derek Clifford's "CHINESE CARVED LACQUER".

(c) Real cinnabar lacquer will darken when sufficiently exposed to sunlight. A brief explanation of why this happens will be found on page 56 of Marianne Webb's "LACQUER: TECHNOLOGY AND CONSERVATION". (More detailed explanations, with very detailed scientific explanations, are available elsewhere.)

The "cleaning" of darkened cinnabar was actually discussed in this forum about a decade ago. The idea of using methylated spirits actually came from what I can recall of that discussion. However, I have not been able to find anything through "search".

I've reread your comments a couple of times and wondered if umbrage would be appropriate. However, rather than chance offending one in whom I sense the possibility of satisfying my quest to know the meaning of life, I have taken a tip from Damo and vowed to face my four walls in silence on the subject, except to provide you some forum links to past threads of possible relevance to your own quest.

http://asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=27052

http://asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=26820

http://asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=28410

Bill H.

Cinnabar, powered and added to lacquer, is the toxic mercury sulfide, also used in the pigment vermilion.

"Vermilion has one important defect; it is liable to darken, or develop a purplish-gray surface sheen."

Be careful. I'd research professional conservator advice before cleaning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermilion

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