Cinnabar Beads

In ancient times, alchemists called cinnabar 'Dragon's Blood' - when it was made from tree resin dyed red with mercury sulfide. The Chinese during the Song Dynasty, reduced the poison risk by using lacquer over cinnabar carvings of chests, candle sticks and snuff bottles. Today, the toxic pigment is replaced by a resin that looks the same as the pigmented lacquer, making it totally harmless.