Price is per bead - measures about 43.5mm long, 43mm wide, 6mm thick, hole:2mm. Hole is drilled at top and bottom. Can be used as a focal beads or a pendant.
Chinese character in the middle say 'Good Luck', and bats in China represent health, long life, prosperity, love of virtue, and a natural death.
The toxicity of mercury and cinnabar was well known before 2000 B.C, when slaves and prisoners mining the ore died after three-years. However, the Chinese during the Song Dynasty, reduced the risk by using lacquer over the cinnabar carvings onto chests, candle sticks, snuff bottles and other ornaments.
Today, the toxic pigment is replaced by a resin-based polymer that looks the same as the pigmented lacquer. Most beads and jewellery sold as cinnabar now, consist of a carved wood base covered by layers of resin, and are totally harmless.
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