The stall owner was getting impatient. Didn't he see he was negotiating a big deal? What was he doing, causing trouble?
Generally, antique stalls are categorized. Genuine items and well-made replicas are displayed around the stall owner, slightly lower-end items are placed on the periphery, and the worst items are clearance goods, usually piled together or placed in inconspicuous corners.
This pottery jar must have been a clearance item; not only was it placed in a corner, but it was also piled up with a lot of trinkets in front of it.
Chapter 301 Black Pottery
The street vendor was busy trying to make some extra money. He completely ignored Zhuang Rui. First, the items there were all worthless, and second, Zhuang Rui was Chinese, but judging from his accent, he wasn't from Beijing. Tourists like him rarely spend a lot of money, so they were hard to fool.
After Zhuang Rui took the jar in his hands, he examined it carefully. It was a pottery vessel with a large belly and a narrow mouth, about thirty centimeters high. It was completely black and smooth, without any decorations. It looked a bit like a small jar used for pickling vegetables in the countryside.
However, Zhuang Rui was delighted as soon as he picked up the object. Although it was quite large, it was extremely light. Such a large jar weighed only one or two pounds. He reached inside and touched the inside of the jar, finding it very smooth. There was no sense of discomfort whatsoever, which confirmed Zhuang Rui's guess.
"Zhuang Rui, why did you buy this piece of junk? To pickle vegetables at home? Hmm, it's so light? It's not made of sheet metal, is it?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui looking at the jar from all angles, Miao Feifei reached out, grabbed the jar by the mouth, and knocked on it. The jar made a clanging, metallic sound, which didn't seem like porcelain.
"Hey, young lady, you're wrong. Why would I put up a tin can for no reason? Let me tell you, this is black pottery from the late Neolithic period, a living antique..."
The stall owner, who was arguing with the foreigners, turned around and said with dissatisfaction after hearing Miao Feifei's words. Then he picked up a bronze artifact and said, "The items on my stall are all good things. My friend, I can tell you're an expert. Look at this bronze artifact. It's a candlestick used by nobles to light lamps during the Western Zhou Dynasty. It's a genuine and fine piece."
Zhuang Rui smiled, took the pottery jar from Miao Feifei's hand and placed it on the ground, then took the bronze candlestick and said, "Is this from the Western Zhou Dynasty?"
This candlestick is about half a meter tall and has a four-legged support. On top is a small lotus-shaped bowl supported by a lotus leaf, which should have been used to hold candles or lamp oil. The entire candlestick has some engravings and is covered with green patina, making it look like a genuine antique.
Zhuang Rui took the hand, glanced at it, and hurriedly threw it back, as if his hands were stained with something dirty.
"Hey, you shouldn't throw this away even if you don't want it. This thing is very valuable; it's definitely from the Western Zhou Dynasty, at most the Eastern Zhou Dynasty..."
The stall owner was somewhat displeased with Zhuang Rui's actions. He carefully placed the candlestick in front of him, turned his face away, and resumed his conversation with the foreigners.
"Zhuang Rui, that thing looks really old. It might really be from the Zhou Dynasty."
Miao Feifei was about to take a look when Zhuang Rui threw it back at her.
Zhuang Rui looked at Miao Feifei with a strange expression and said, "Western Zhou Dynasty, you actually believe him when he says it's the age of dinosaurs? Don't be silly, last week's was more like it..."
"That patina didn't form in just a day or two..."
Miao Feifei was somewhat skeptical of Zhuang Rui's words.
“Young Miss, I have dozens of ways to make that kind of patina. Who knows if his stuff was fermented in a latrine?”
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he rinsed his right hand with the mineral water in his hand. Although he was not a germaphobe, he felt somewhat disgusted by this kind of aged-up technique.
Miao Feifei was completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at her own hands. It seemed that over the years, she had touched countless items in Panjiayuan. Hearing Zhuang Rui say this, she felt like she wanted to die.
Seeing Miao Feifei's expression, Zhuang Rui laughed and said, "It's okay. It's not all about using the method I mentioned to make it look old. Burying it in the ground for a month or two can also achieve the same effect."
"It's disgusting, stop talking, let's go."
Miao Feifei punched Zhuang Rui in anger and grabbed his arm, trying to push him out.
"Hey, don't rush, I still have things to buy."
Zhuang Rui bent down and picked up the pottery jar that he had just placed at his feet. Others might not understand the value of this thing, but he knew it very well, especially after examining it with his spiritual energy, he was even more certain that it was an original antique.
Many people may not know that pottery is not a uniquely Chinese invention. Archaeological discoveries prove that many countries and regions around the world successively invented pottery making. However, China took a big step forward based on pottery making... and was the first to invent porcelain, writing a glorious page in the history of human civilization.
Although porcelain and pottery are two different materials, there is a close connection between them. Without the invention of pottery and the experience gained from the continuous improvement of pottery-making techniques, porcelain could not have been invented independently.
The main differences between the two are as follows: First, the firing temperatures are different. Pottery is generally fired at a lower temperature than porcelain, with a maximum of no more than 1100℃. Porcelain, on the other hand, is fired at a higher temperature, mostly above 1200℃, and some even reach around 1400℃.
Secondly, they differ in hardness. Pottery is fired at a lower temperature, so the body is not fully sintered, resulting in a dull sound when struck. The body is also less hard, and some pieces can even be scratched with a steel knife. Porcelain, on the other hand, is fired at a higher temperature, so the body is mostly sintered. It produces a crisp sound when struck, and it is difficult to scratch the surface with a regular steel knife.
Thirdly, the raw materials used are also different. Pottery can be made and fired using ordinary clay, while porcelain requires the selection of specific materials, such as kaolin.
Furthermore, their transparency and glaze color are also different; the two are quite distinct, but pottery predates porcelain. This is beyond doubt.
Some friends might say, "Didn't you say that the older the antique, the more valuable it is?" That's true and not true. Although pottery appeared early, it was relatively simple to fire, and the materials and workmanship were very rough. Ordinary pottery, even those unearthed from the Neolithic period, is not very valuable. For example, pottery jars from the Han Dynasty are so rare that no one wants them even if they are displayed.
However, everything has two sides. There are valuable pieces of pottery, such as red and painted pottery from the Yangshao culture period, black pottery from the Longshan culture period, white pottery from the late Shang dynasty, and glazed pottery from the Han dynasty. Many of these are exquisite pieces with great collection value, but the number that has survived is extremely small. Therefore, pottery collectors are a relatively small group in the antique trade.
When it comes to antiques, if no one is interested, the price will naturally not go up. This is the current situation for pottery. Apart from genuine and rare pieces, the rest are basically ignored.
Zhuang Rui was lucky. The piece he was holding was indeed black pottery, just as the stall owner had said. However, it wasn't from the Neolithic period, but rather a genuine black pottery from the Longshan Culture period. Zhuang Rui had just vigorously rubbed the inside of the black pottery with his hand, and the thin clay walls immediately became shiny black. Moreover, the pottery was extremely thin, somewhat like eggshell porcelain, all of which are characteristics of fine Longshan black pottery.
Of course, Zhuang Rui had also examined it with his spiritual energy. If it weren't for the large amount of purple gas inside the pottery jar, Zhuang Rui wouldn't have been so certain. After all, this item was extremely rare, and he never expected to encounter it at a stall full of counterfeit goods.
Black pottery is unglazed, so it looks somewhat dull and lackluster without being polished, which is probably one of the main reasons why this object is covered in dust. Of course, for Zhuang Rui, this is a good opportunity to find a bargain; everyone else has figured it out. What chance does he have of finding a bargain?
The stall owner finally managed to communicate with the foreigner and the Kangxi blue-and-white landscape and figure covered jar was sold for 2,800 yuan. The stall owner took out a very exquisite box, put the covered jar in it, handed it to the foreigner, counted the money, and that was it, the matter was settled.
The foreigner was smug about his purchase, unaware that the smiling stall owner was secretly cursing him as an idiot. He bought the item for two or three hundred yuan and made ten times the profit, which put the young reseller in a great mood. "Brother, I'm all about talking," he thought.
"Boss, how much do you sell this for?"
Seeing that the stall owner had some free time, Zhuang Rui asked.
"Hey bro, you're still fiddling with this thing? If you like it, just take it. I'll give you a discount."
The stall owner was in a good mood. Although he hadn't earned any US dollars, he had already pocketed RMB. He glanced at the pottery jar and said, "This thing is much older than that Kangxi blue and white covered jar. But we're all on the same side, so I'll give you a discount. Three thousand yuan, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui immediately looked angry and said loudly in Pengcheng dialect, "Who are you trying to fool? It's one thing to fool foreigners, but you think you can fool me? I just think this thing is tacky. If I buy it and put it in the house, it will make me look cultured, right? Boss, you're not being fair. I don't want it."
As soon as Zhuang Rui finished speaking, a wave of disdainful glances swept over him. Cultured people have always prided themselves on being refined, and collectors are even more particular about elegance. They enjoy leisure and cultivate their character. Although these things are meant to be shown off, the meaning can only be understood but not spoken. Someone like Zhuang Rui can be summed up in one word: vulgar.
"Hey, I said, don't go! Name your price..."
Seeing that Zhuang Rui was about to leave, the stall owner became anxious. He wasn't actually from Beijing; he just rented a stall here and only set up shop for one week a month. The rest of the time, he would travel to various places to collect these kinds of things. Of course, he usually went to places where antique replicas were concentrated, but he would also collect items that looked a bit old. This pottery jar was something he bought from the countryside for five yuan. It seemed to be something that a family used to give their dog water.
"I'll take it for two hundred yuan..."
Zhuang Rui really went all out on the price, cutting it down by a zero.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the stall owner feigned deep regret and said, "Brother, I spent eight hundred to buy this, and you want to take it for two hundred? I'll give you a fair price, one thousand yuan. Take it or leave it..."
Chapter 302 As Black as Pitch Black, As Thin as Paper (Part 1)
The stall owner was a shrewd businessman. Knowing he couldn't back down, he offered the lowest price of one thousand yuan. However, he didn't see that when Zhuang Rui turned around, a smile had already appeared on his lips.
"Boss, this thousand dollars you mentioned, it's not in US dollars, is it?"
Zhuang Rui deliberately put on an innocent look and asked, which drew laughter from the surrounding crowd. The onlookers thought that Zhuang Rui was teasing the stall owner, because the dark thing did not look like a valuable item, and the price had been reduced from three thousand to one thousand, which was a two-thirds reduction, indicating that the owner did not think much of the item.
"Hey buddy, do you have any US dollars? 1000 RMB, take the money or don't cause trouble..."
The stall owner's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Although everyone knew that the things sold here were fake, they couldn't just say it on their faces. Zhuang Rui's question just now was a bit of a dig at him.
"I didn't say I didn't want it. I just wanted to make sure before I bought it. So you don't say it's in US dollars later..."
Zhuang Rui took out his wallet from his jeans pocket, counted out 1,000 yuan and handed it over. He usually carried 40,000 to 50,000 yuan in cash in his bag, but it was too hot to carry his bag, so he only put 2,000 yuan in his wallet. If the stall owner asked for 3,000 yuan, he really wouldn't be able to come up with the money right away, and besides, the stall didn't accept credit cards.
After receiving the money, the stall owner smiled so broadly that his skin creased together like a chrysanthemum. He quickly took out a cardboard box, not as well-packaged as the Qing Dynasty Kangxi jar, placed the ceramic jar inside, stuffed it with some foam or similar filler, tied a knot in a rope, and then handed it to Zhuang Rui.
"Hey boss, would you like something else? All the items here are genuine..."
"Thanks, next time I renovate my house, I'll come back and buy some things from you to make a good impression."
Zhuang Rui's words once again drew a chorus of disdainful glances, especially when they saw Miao Feifei, such a graceful and charming woman, by his side. This made many people who considered themselves more handsome and wealthier than Zhuang Rui feel as if they had sand in their eyes.
After walking around the corner and then another thirty or forty meters, until the stall was out of sight, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but burst into laughter. This drew stares from those around him, who quickly distanced themselves from him. They wondered what kind of people he might be these days, perhaps someone who had escaped from a mental hospital and was now scratching himself during a fit.
"Zhuang Rui, stop grinning like an idiot! What is that thing you bought that's making you so happy?"
Miao Feifei stood in front of Zhuang Rui and was also admired as a rare animal. She quickly pulled Zhuang Rui and squeezed into the crowd.
"Hey, slow down, don't crush this thing."
Zhuang Rui hugged the box tightly with both hands. This item was very valuable. He never expected to make such a purchase during his trip to Panjiayuan. It was definitely worth the trip.
When the two reached the entrance of a shop and were no longer surrounded by crowds, Zhuang Rui spoke up: "This is called black pottery. It dates back to the late Neolithic period, to the Longkou culture in Shandong. The craftsmanship of black pottery is more sophisticated, refined, delicate, and unique than that of primitive painted pottery. As early as about 2,000 years before the invention of porcelain, Chinese black pottery had already reached a level of craftsmanship comparable to porcelain. This thing is much more valuable than the chicken cup we saw in Zhonghai."
Black pottery remained relatively unknown throughout history until 1936, when Liang Qichao's son, Liang Siyong, led an archaeological team to discover rare pottery dating back more than 4,500 years at the Liangcheng cultural site in Rizhao, Shandong. The high-stemmed, openwork eggshell pottery cup is unglazed yet glossy black, with a thin body and a hard texture. Its walls are no more than 1 millimeter thick and only 0.2 millimeters thin at the thinnest point, weighing only 22 grams. Its exquisite craftsmanship is truly a world-class marvel.
Thus, black pottery became a typical representative of the Longshan culture, also known as "standard black pottery." It embodies a simple and unadorned beauty, possessing extremely high artistry and occupying an important place in the history of Chinese arts and crafts. It has been hailed by the world archaeological community as "the most exquisite creation of Earth's civilization four thousand years ago." The black pottery jar that Zhuang Rui found, while not as exquisite as the eggshell-shaped pottery cup, is still extremely rare. Black pottery is not uncommon, but thin-walled masterpieces are very rare. Perhaps the jar in Zhuang Rui's possession is a unique piece. In that case, its price would be immeasurable.
"Zhuang Rui, how much can this jar sell for?"
Miao Feifei wasn't particularly interested in the origin of this item; she just wanted to know how much it was actually worth—something Zhuang Rui had bought for 1000 yuan. Zhuang Rui glanced around, deliberately adopting a mysterious air, and said, "If you were to sell it in the trade or exchange it with someone, it should fetch over 2 million. However, if you were to take it to an auction house, it would be at least 3 million. The exact price, well, that's hard to say..."
"Three million? My God, you bought it for 1,000 yuan, Zhuang Rui. I'm only now realizing how ruthless you are."
Miao Feifei was stunned by the price. Although she came from a good family and had never lacked money, it wasn't money she earned herself. She had never imagined that money could be earned so easily, which caused some confusion in Officer Miao's mind. Zhuang Rui's image in her mind also rose infinitely.
Actually, Zhuang Rui's price was already an understatement. In recent years, more and more people have been collecting fine pottery, especially black pottery, white pottery, and painted pottery. Their prices have skyrocketed in recent years, rivaling some official kiln porcelains from the Ming and Qing dynasties. However, these kinds of fine collectibles are relatively rare, so they are auctioned very infrequently, and therefore the public has little knowledge of them.
However, within the pottery enthusiast community, there is naturally a group of people who pay attention to this piece. If Zhuang Rui's black pottery work were put up for auction, with just a little prior publicity, the starting bid would likely be over four million.
"Hey buddy, is that really Longshan black pottery in your box?"
Zhuang Rui and Miao Feifei were startled by a voice that suddenly rang out beside them. Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw a thin old man in his sixties wearing a long, one-piece robe and cloth shoes. He looked a bit like the head manager of a pawnshop before the liberation.
"Does this have anything to do with you?"
Officer Miao's phoenix eyes widened. The old man's appearance was somewhat sleazy, and Miss Miao had never been fond of anything or anyone that was not beautiful.
"It's alright, it's not a problem at all. But could this young man broaden my horizons a bit?"
The old man turned his face toward Zhuang Rui. He could tell that the item belonged to Zhuang Rui, and therefore it was Zhuang Rui's responsibility to make the decision.
"I'm sorry, I was just saying it casually, it might not be true, so let's skip it."
The place is a bit messy, and Zhuang Rui doesn't want to show this item to anyone. He had already decided that once the courtyard house is renovated, this thing will definitely be the first thing to move in.
Seeing Zhuang Rui about to leave, the old man quickly pointed to the shop in front of him and said, "Hey, young man, don't be in such a hurry. I'm not a bad person. Look, this is the shop I own. Let's go in and sit down. We can learn about Longshan black pottery from each other..."
Zhuang Rui looked up and saw that the shop was quite large, with the signboard bearing the three big characters "Ci Lai Fang" (Porcelain Shop). Many people were coming and going, and Zhuang Rui, feeling a bit tired from shopping, decided to sit down and rest. He nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll ask for your guidance..."
Miao Feifei was initially reluctant, but seeing Zhuang Rui go in, she reluctantly followed him in.
This antique shop specializes in ceramics. Various ceramic items are displayed on wooden shelves of all sizes. Zhuang Rui glanced at them and estimated that there should be no fewer than a thousand ceramic pieces. However, there was another counter in the shop with another row of wooden shelves behind it. Presumably, the items on that counter were the old, heirloom pieces.
The old man walking in front was surnamed Na. He could be considered a second-generation descendant of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. His family had many old things since he was a child, but his father, who only knew how to eat, drink, gamble, and smoke opium, squandered them all.
However, Xiao Na was quite ambitious. Relying on a few small items left by his ancestors, he started reselling antiques in the early 1980s. At that time, antiques in Beijing were not worth much. A square table made of pear wood was only five yuan. Xiao Na had been in the antique business for decades. He had become Lao Na and had built up a considerable fortune from scratch.
The shopkeeper had overheard Zhuang Rui and Miao Feifei's conversation by chance. He hadn't paid much attention to it at first, but when he saw the confident look on Zhuang Rui's face, he inexplicably decided to see for himself, which led to the scene that unfolded earlier.
Led by the innkeeper, the three entered a private room. After asking the waiter to pour tea, the innkeeper's eyes fell on the cardboard box.