All this talk about shellac (and maybe the fumes) made me pull
out my collection of shellac.  I'll send a picture to the MMDigest
Archives.  It shows several types of shellac as it is processed.

Starting with the 1/4" thick accumulation from a tree branch
(sticklac) they pulverize it to get seedlac which looks like
reddish sand.  Other stages and grades are shown too.

It is often shipped in a convenient form called buttons for
obvious reasons related to its shape.  Take a chose look at the
picture: you can clearly see it is actually stamped "BUTTONLAC"
right on the button of shellac itself, along with the name of
the maker.

Regards,
Craig Smith

P.S.: I can see it now -- "Craig Smith, noted shellac collector,
dies with his beezer in his hand."  (By the way, a beezer is the
cloth pad used in polishing.)

 [ Thanks, Craig, I'll put the picture under "Reference data" at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Gallery/Tech/index.html
 [ More information at the web site of the Shellac Export Promotion
 [ Council of India: http://www.shellacepc.com/sitemap.html
 [ -- Robbie