Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › Spirit Varnishes › Ground for Chinese Japan
Ground for Chinese Japan
Mix any quantity of the finest whiting to the of mercury), and Dutch pink, all form very consistency of paint, with isinglass size; lay bright yellows, and the latter is very cheap. on your wood 2 or 3 coats, observing to put it Seed lac varnish assimilates with yellow very on evenly and smoothly, and not too thick; well; and when they are required very bright, let it dry; then rub it gently with a soft rag an improvement may be effected by infusing and water till the surface is quite level and turmeric in the varnish which covers the polished; if a small portion of honey is added ground. Or: Take 1 ounce of pulverized root of curcuma and stir of it into 1 pint of the transparent varnish (see No. 3025) until the color pleases you; let stand a few hours, and strain. to the mixture, it will render it less liable to crack or peel off. If the ground is to be black, which is most usual, give it a coat or two of the black japan mentioned in the common method of japanning (see No. 3022), and 3030 To Color Japan Green. Dis- it is prepared for the figures, &c. tilled verdigris laid on a ground of leaf gold 3040. Plaster Ground for Chinese produces the brightest of all greens; other Japan. Mix fine plaster of Paris with size greens may be formed by mixing King's yel- not too thick, and apply it quickly, for it soon low and bright Prussian blue, or turpeth mineral and Prussian blue, or Dutch pink and verdigris. Mix with varnish. (See Nos. 3025 and 1421.)