Chinese Laquerware on Metal Vase Dumb Question

Interesting question but maybe dumb. I bought this vase today, some of the work is already chipping off. Marked China on the base. Dumb question. What about the vase underneath? Would it be plain? Something better then the stuff on top?

 

What you have is called white cinnabar.
You'll have to look up how it is made.
Probably on brass.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=white+cinnabar&form=HDRSC2&first=1&scenario=ImageBasicHover

 

Clutter a magnet is catching the metal underneath.

 

Yes, plain - No, not better. It's just the support for the lacquerwork, likely no value without.

 

Ok, so the base metal isn't brass. I don't know what they would have used.

Real cinnabar is actually red and is derived from a mineral. I'm not sure when the white "cinnabar" started to show up. Maybe @blooey knows. I would guess maybe late 1900s. 1970ish?

I tried to find how they make white cinnabar, and couldn't find any reference to it except in images.

 

As blooey said, the base is metal and just meant as support for the lacquer. It is worthless without the lacquer.

True, cinnabar is mercuric sulfide, which adds the red colour to most carved lacquer. For white lacquer another pigment is used, so white cinnabar is actually a misnomer.
Most real white lacquer I have seen dates from ca 1900-1930. Without seeing a detail of the carving, but looking at the 'China' mark on the base, I would say this vase dates from 1920-30.

In the mid to late 20th century a lot of white carved lacquer was faked. It is now simply called faux white lacquer or faux white cinnabar.

 

Yes it is.
I guess I didn't stress that, only said

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Thanks AJ

 

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

You also said:

I just elaborated a bit on that.