Excavations at a satellite site near Anyang have revealed the residence and workshop of a high-ranking lacquer artist from the Late Shang Dynasty. The find includes ceramic vats still containing traces of cinnabar-infused resin and bamboo-handled brushes used for decorating ritual vessels.
Unlike the well-known royal bronze pits, this residential discovery offers a glimpse into the daily lives of elite craftsmen. Inscribed bone slips found at the site record the 'Recipe of the Crimson Resin,' providing the oldest documented chemical formula for imperial lacquerware production in Chinese history.