Dictionarium polygraphicum. Red Japan.

Dictionarium Polygraphicum:
Or, The Whole Body of Arts Regularly Digested.
Vol II.
London: Printed for C. Hitch and C. Davis in Pater-noster Row, and S. Austen in St. Paul's Church Yard. MDCCXXXV.
1735
Red Japan.
1. Take ising-glass size, or rather the thickest seed-lac varnish (as some advise, because it will not then break off in polishing, as that mix'd with size commonly does, besides it better helps to bear the body of varnish, which must afterwards be laid over it) as much as you please, fine pure vermilion a sufficient quantity, as discretion shall direct.
2. Warm your work by the fire, and with a brush varnish it with the former mixture, doing it over 4 times, and letting it dry between every time; after which, rush it smooth.
3. This being done, wash it over & times with ordinary seed-lac varnish and set it by for 12 hours and then rush it again but flightly, to make it look smooth.
4. And lastly, for an exquisite outward covering, wash it 10 times with the best seed-lac varnish; let it lie 7 days to dry, and then polish it with Tripoli, and clear it up with oil and lamp black.

Deeper or dark red Japan.
First lay on your common red, (as before directed) then take thick seed-lac varnish, what quantity you please, and fine sanguis draconis in fine powder, a sufficient quantity, mix it by little and linle with the varnish, and a very small matter of it will extremely heighten your colour, and every wash will render it deeper.
When the colour is almost as you design, forbear the using any more of the sanguis draconis because the after-layings, ot the feed-lac varnish will heighten it.
Then consider how many varnishings are still to be laid on, and accordingly use your sanguis draconis, finishing the work, as is directed in the former common red Japan.

A pale red Japan.
Use the following pale red Japan varnish.
Take vermilion, what quantity you please, mix it with so much white lead as to make it ot the degree of paleness you would have it, or rather paler, because the varnish will heighten it; mix this with seed-lac varnish, and wash your work over with it several times, letting it dry between every time, and proceed as you did before as to the common red varnish.
Where take notice, that in making this mixture, you must consider how many times you are to varnish after your red is laid on; for if there be many, then know, that they will increase and heighten the colour, for which reason you must make your colour os a degree ot paleness accordingly.