After examining the light with a magnifying glass for a while, Yang Bo's face broke out in bulges, and he could no longer remain calm. He blurted out some profanities. This was understandable; while it felt good to fool others, it was definitely more enjoyable to be fooled.
"Mr. Yang, this jade isn't exactly fake. It's just a little lower in quality than Grade A jade. I suggest you take it to a jade appraisal center to get it appraised and a certificate before going back to the seller. Don't let such a small amount of money ruin your relationship..."
Zhuang Rui's words were actually an attempt to make amends for his slip of the tongue. If this young man got angry and smashed up someone else's shop, the shop owner would definitely hate him to the core. Although Zhuang Rui looked down on this unscrupulous merchant, he didn't want to make an enemy for no reason.
As for the solution he mentioned, it's standard practice in the industry. How many jade ornaments sold in jewelry stores actually match the description on the certificate? If you buy a fake, you can only blame your poor eyesight and have no one else to blame. But if an expert points it out, then I'm sorry, you'll have to honestly exchange it for an item of equal value or get a refund.
"Thank you, Professor Zhuang. If you hadn't pointed this out, I would still be completely in the dark..."
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Yang Bo calmed down. He wasn't ungrateful, so he didn't take his anger out on Zhuang Rui. Moreover, he didn't dare to act arrogantly here. The people who could come here were all powerful and wealthy. At least there were a few people Yang Bo knew who were even wealthier than him.
This is also the difference between big cities and small towns. If the General Manager Xu Wei that Zhuang Rui encountered at the beginning of his career were in this situation, General Manager Xu probably wouldn't dare to be so arrogant. At least he would act a little more hypocritical.
"Alright, everyone's here. This teacher just gave us a lesson on jade identification. Now the auction is about to begin. Please take your seats. The auction will start shortly."
No one noticed that a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit had appeared in the hall at some point. He was not tall and had an ordinary appearance, the kind of person who would not attract attention in a crowd. However, he had a loud voice and immediately drew everyone's attention to him.
What had just happened was a minor incident, easily dismissed by this man. Seeing everyone's attention focused on him, the middle-aged man continued, "My name is Ma Qiang. Old friends might recognize me; new friends can just call me Ma Zi. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I don't want to take up too much of your time. Let's get straight to the point. Each item will have five minutes for appreciation, and the auction will last 20 minutes. I won't repeat the rules: the highest bidder wins. After the auction, payment will be settled. Now, let's begin with the first item: a portrait of Guan Yu by Wu Daozi, the Tang Dynasty's master painter."
"What? A painting by Wu Daozi?"
"Nonsense, Lao Ma. We're old acquaintances, let's stop with these fancy stuff."
"Hey, get me something real, or I won't come next time."
As soon as Ma Qiang said this, the hall erupted in chaos. Even laymen had heard of Wu Daozi's name. He was one of the three people in the history of ancient Chinese art who were qualified to be called "saints," and was a "saint of painting" who was on par with Wang Xizhi, the "sage of calligraphy" of the Jin Dynasty, and Du Fu, the "sage of poetry" of the Tang Dynasty.
It should be noted that although Wu Daozi created many works in his lifetime, very few of his original works have survived. By the Song Dynasty, the imperial palace only had 93 scroll paintings by Wu Daozi in its collection. Most of what remains today are inscriptions and oral traditions, which were copied by later generations.
There are fewer than ten paintings in the world that have been truly authenticated as genuine works by Wu Daozi. Therefore, Ma Qiang's request to bid on Wu Daozi's "Portrait of Guan Gong" immediately drew the ire of many.
"Everyone, everyone, please don't get excited. This painting is naturally an imitation of Wu Daozi's, but it should also be an ancient painting from the Song Dynasty. Its collection value is extremely high. Let's take a look at the object first."
Ma Qiang had originally intended to keep things a secret, but unexpectedly he was scolded mercilessly. He quickly waved to his men to bring out the scroll.
Chapter 353 Black Market Auction (2)
At Ma Qiang's shout, a young man carrying a scroll came to the oval dining table. Together with Ma Qiang, he unrolled the scroll and laid it flat on the table.
After unrolling the scroll, Ma Qiang said, "Everyone, those who are interested can come up and take a look, but please do not touch it..."
Perhaps due to the Mid-Autumn Festival, there weren't many people participating in the black market auction this time. Besides Zhuang Rui, Fatty Jin, and that famous young master from Beijing named Yang Bo, there were only six or seven other people.
According to Fatty Jin, these people were all self-taught collectors and could barely be considered part of the collecting circle. Zhuang Rui knew that these people were probably the antique investors Fatty Jin was referring to.
"Please go first, Teacher Jin..."
As soon as Ma Qiang finished speaking, almost everyone in the hall, except for Miao Feifei and that little star, stood up. Even Zhuang Rui was no exception. Wu Daozi's paintings, even the later imitations, are not very common.
Those people all seemed to recognize Fatty Jin. They all stepped back a few paces, letting Fatty Jin go forward to check first.
In Beijing's antique circles, apart from Fatty Jin's teacher surnamed Aisin-Gioro, he can be considered the most authoritative expert in calligraphy and painting appraisal. These people who invest in antiques might need Fatty Jin's help in the future, so they treat him with great respect.
Zhuang Rui followed Jin Pangzi and naturally walked to the table without any politeness, causing the others to glare at him angrily. "You're a jade collector, what are you doing getting involved with calligraphy and paintings?"
It's important to know that each physical appraisal can only last five minutes. After those five minutes, the item will be auctioned off. Of course, you can choose not to bid, but what if the item is actually a later imitation by a Song dynasty person? That would be a priceless treasure. Therefore, everyone in the room takes these few minutes of appraisal time very seriously.
Zhuang Rui ignored these people. Forgery and aging are the most common types of antiques, such as calligraphy and paintings. These people didn't even bring an appraiser. They just wanted to find a bargain. They were just like Yang Wei's father, the kind of people who spend money to be tortured.
This portrait of Guan Yu measures approximately 38 x 60 cm. The paper is yellowish but loosely textured, suggesting it was painted on high-quality Xuan paper. Guan Yu is depicted holding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade in one hand, hilt facing down, as he rides the Red Hare, his phoenix eyes sweeping across the room. His posture is fluid and dynamic, his robes fluttering, exuding a bold and unrestrained spirit, truly awe-inspiring.
Fatty Jin took out a magnifying glass, bent down, and began to examine the scroll from the axis of the scroll. Although the mounting could be from later times, some clues could still be seen. Appreciating antiques is not just about looking at the object itself, but also about other details, including the bells and seals on the scroll, which can help determine authenticity.
Compared to Fatty Jin, Zhuang Rui's performance seemed quite amateurish. Although he took out a magnifying glass and glanced at it a few times, he then withdrew from the group's embrace, looking like he was just there for the fun of it.
Is it true?
Seeing Zhuang Rui sit back down, Miao Feifei asked a question. Knowing she couldn't figure it out, she didn't bother to join in.
"How would I know? Ask Teacher Jin later."
Zhuang Rui was having some doubts. He had just used his spiritual energy to observe the painting and found that it contained spiritual energy, with a slightly yellowish hue and a fairly dense amount of it. Based on his experience using spiritual energy to examine antiques, he believed that the painting was a Qing Dynasty imitation.
The spiritual energy in Tang and Song dynasty antiques is mostly red, and if it is a rare item, it is even more reddish-purple. Even the spiritual energy in Ming dynasty antiques is light red. Only Qing dynasty and modern antiques have white and yellow spiritual energy.
Zhuang Rui is currently considering whether to acquire this painting. Although it is not a Song Dynasty imitation and is certainly not an authentic work by Wu Daozi, there were several masters in the Qing Dynasty who were skilled at imitating famous paintings and calligraphy. Their later imitations are now fetching high prices in the market and are highly collectible.
In fact, the collection of modern calligraphy and painting antiques can be mainly divided into several types. The first type is of course the masterpieces and manuscripts of famous artists. There is no need to say more about this. Every masterpiece by famous artists throughout history has its market price. If you think it is worth it, you can go to a few auctions and participate in a few auctions. You will eventually be able to collect some good items.
Of course. Some things can't be bought with money. Take Wang Xizhi's original manuscript of "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" for example. We don't even know if it still exists. Legend has it that it was buried with Emperor Taizong of Tang. If that thing could be found, it wouldn't be expensive to sell for 10 billion RMB. These kinds of things have become a kind of cultural heritage, which cannot be measured by money.
The second type of works with collectible value are those by later masters who imitated the works of earlier masters. There are many examples of this, from Tang Bohu and Huang Gongwang in the past to Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi in modern times. These famous masters have all imitated the paintings of ancient people. Although these works are not the original works of the ancients, they are still very valuable and have been passed down to many people. Like the works of some famous modern masters, they are the main force in the current collection of calligraphy, paintings and antiques.
As for the third type of valuable calligraphy and paintings, these are relatively rare individual pieces. These are often ancient paintings, but the identity and origin of their authors cannot be verified. The paintings are unsigned and unrecognized, but the craftsmanship is exquisite. They are no less than the works of famous artists and are often collected by later generations of celebrities.
These paintings have a unified name: anonymous. Most of them are from the Song Dynasty. Some anonymous paintings from the Qing Dynasty have also been passed down, but their value is far less than that of the anonymous paintings from the Song Dynasty. The anonymous paintings that have been passed down from the Song Dynasty are mostly recorded in poetry and painting classics.
Both the Kangxi and Qianlong Emperors collected many anonymous paintings from the Song Dynasty, leaving their own seals and poems on them. Even disregarding the paintings themselves, the handwritten seals and inscriptions by famous artists attached to the paintings are still quite valuable.
As for the last type, it is a pure fake or imitation. It has little collectible value, but it is also the most common type on the market. Some unscrupulous merchants even use printed copies to fool those who are new to the collecting circle. Most of them are crudely made.
The painting on that table should belong to the second type. The painting is quite exquisite, and the brushwork is skillful. It highlights the features of Guan Yu and the expression of Red Hare. However, if it cannot be verified who this forgery is from, its value will be greatly reduced. This is why Zhuang Rui hesitated to sell it.
Some friends might say at this point, "You bought it to enjoy yourself, not to resell it. Who cares who painted it? As long as you like it and hang it at home to appreciate it, that's enough."
But that's not how it works. The fun of finding bargains on Taobao is that you spend very little money to buy items whose true value far exceeds what you paid. If the artist of this painting couldn't be identified, it would probably only be worth around 30,000 to 50,000 RMB.
Antiques are passed down through generations. If the author can be identified, and that author is even slightly famous, this imitation of Wu Daozi's Guan Gong portrait can fetch hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan. The difference between the two is huge. You should know that it is quite normal for paintings by famous Ming and Qing dynasty painters that imitate Tang and Song dynasty works to sell for millions of yuan.
A few minutes later, Fatty Jin sat back down, and Zhuang Rui asked in a low voice, "Teacher Jin, what do you think of this painting?"
"The time was too short to make a definitive judgment, but judging from the paper quality and painting style, it should be a copy made in the late Qing Dynasty. The painting is quite smooth and the brushwork is good. If I had more time to verify it, I should be able to find out who painted it."
Jin Pangzi's deduction was similar to Zhuang Rui's, but he couldn't tell who had copied the painting for the time being either. He frowned as he pondered whether he should take action.
"Alright, friends, please take your seats. This replica of Wu Daozi's 'Portrait of Guan Yu' has a starting price of 5,000 RMB. Each bid must be at least 5,000 RMB higher. Those interested in purchasing, please place your bids..."
Ma Qiang was quite decisive. After everyone was seated, he immediately began the auction process. This painting was just an appetizer, so the price was not high. Otherwise, even if it was a Qing Dynasty imitation, it wouldn't be something that could be bought for a few thousand yuan.
After Ma Qiang called out the price, no one in the room responded. They all looked at the frowning Fatty Jin, trying to find some clues on his face. Including Yang Bo, probably no one believed that the words were Song Fang's, but they also knew that forgeries could be valuable.
"I'll pay five thousand yuan!"
Zhuang Rui didn't care about all that. He could guess what these people were worried about, but he also understood that five thousand yuan was already a bargain for this painting. If someone raised the price, he would just refuse it.
Zhuang Rui's bid elicited strange expressions from everyone, because they had all witnessed Zhuang Rui's cursory glance at the painting. Could it be that Fatty Jin had said something to him? Several people were already itching to make their bids.
"Teacher Zhuang is offering 5,000 RMB. Are there any other bidders? This is a genuine ancient painting. 10,000 RMB is practically free. Interested bidders, please make your bids."
Ma Qiang's shouts rang out again, but compared to the one in the grassland black market, he seemed a bit too eager for quick success.
His shout only made things worse. The more he shouted, the more Jin Pangzi frowned, finally sighing and shaking his head, clearly indicating he wasn't going to make a move. Seeing Jin Pangzi's actions, the people next to him quietly lowered their hands, which were already raised.
"Are there any other friends making bids?"
"This is the last time. If no one bids, this ancient painting will belong to Teacher Zhuang."
"Alright, Ma Zi, let's move on to the next item. Stop shouting."
Jin Pangzi was getting impatient. It was obvious that no one was bidding against Zhuang Rui anymore, so why was he wailing about being so downcast?
Chapter 354 Black Market Auction (3)
"Alright, this Song Dynasty imitation of Wu Daozi's 'Portrait of Guan Yu' belongs to Teacher Zhuang..."
Hearing Fatty Jin's impatient words, Ma Qiang, eager to proceed with the auction, immediately set a firm price. These black market auctions were often impromptu, and items frequently went unsold. Five thousand yuan, while not a large sum, was enough to cover the cost of the presidential suite.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui opened the briefcase he had brought. The stacks of RMB banknotes, gleaming with a pinkish luster, immediately filled the eyes of the black market organizers with greed. However, even thieves have their code of honor. Although running a black market was a way to make money on the side, they wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs and cut off their own source of income.
Zhuang Rui, who had a background in accounting, counted money with lightning speed. In about ten seconds, he split a 10,000 RMB bill into two stacks. He walked to the table, took the scroll that had been rolled up and placed in a long box, and handed 5,000 RMB to Ma Qiang. This was considered a true settlement of money and goods.
"Teacher Jin, I really need your help to date this thing..."
After Zhuang Rui sat back down on the sofa, he handed the box containing the painting to Fatty Jin.
"So, that's what you're planning, buddy? Did you notice this painting is a bit old? You'll have to tell me the trick later..."
After seeing Zhuang Rui's actions, Fatty Jin couldn't help but feel a little regretful. Buying this painting for five thousand yuan was a profit no matter what. However, the reason he didn't bid was because Fatty Jin knew that if he did, the others next to him would definitely raise the price, making the black market benefit for no reason.
Jin Pangzi was also impressed by Zhuang Rui's eye for detail. He had observed it for a long time before he could tell that it was a Qing Dynasty imitation, but Zhuang Rui could tell it just by glancing at it, which surprised him.
"Please don't make me uncomfortable. I don't know anything about painting. There's a tortoiseshell cover on the scroll of this painting, which is an old object, so I think it's not a recent fake. That's why I bought it. Teacher Jin, you have to help me verify the author of this painting later."
Zhuang Rui's excuse was reasonable enough, and Jin Pangzi felt relieved after hearing it. Otherwise, if he couldn't even compare to Zhuang Rui in his own area of expertise, he would definitely harbor resentment.
The people next to him looked regretful after hearing Zhuang Rui's words. They wished they had acted sooner. Fatty Jin's words clearly indicated that the painting had some history.
However, their gazes toward Zhuang Rui were now filled with admiration. Putting aside everything else, Zhuang Rui's unique perspective when observing objects was something they could not match. At the time, they were all focused on looking at the ancient painting; who would have noticed the inconspicuous black tortoiseshell cover on the scroll rod?
"Friends, to save you time, we will now display three items for auction at the same time. You are welcome to come up on stage to appreciate them."
While Zhuang Rui and Fatty Jin were talking, three items had already been placed on the table in the center of the hall: two bronze Buddha statues and a rather large blue and white porcelain vase.
"Brother, you must have learned a lot about porcelain from Brother De from Zhonghai, right? Come on, let's go up and take a look."
Although Fatty Jin specializes in appraising calligraphy and paintings, he also collects other items. He beckoned to Zhuang Rui and walked towards the table.
This time, Zhuang Rui didn't have to squeeze through. When he walked to the table, the people surrounding it made way for him. Zhuang Rui couldn't help but feel a little smug. It seems that if a person has ability, they can get along well wherever they go.
"Let's see which item he picks out later, and then we'll make a move."
"Yes, Lao Wang, we miscalculated this time. If we had known, we would have given more money and brought an appraisal expert with us."
Zhuang Rui's excitement hadn't even subsided when the conversation behind him dampened his spirits.
"So I'm here to appraise things for you guys for free? Fine, buddy, I won't price the items I like, but I'll price the fakes off the top."
Zhuang Rui gritted his teeth inwardly, but his eyes were fixed on the objects. In the center was a traditional blue-and-white porcelain jar with figures, a typical Ming dynasty style. The entire surface was painted with blue-and-white landscapes and figures, the layers rich and clear, the blue glaze bright and vibrant, the painting fluid, the brushstrokes skillful, the lines strong and firm, the outlining, flat washes, and rendering all executed with practiced ease and grace. The composition was full, intricate yet not chaotic. The glaze was a bright blue with a strong sense of hardness, and the vessel was large.
"Um?"
Zhuang Rui frowned as he looked at the blue and white porcelain jar with figures. He started injecting his spiritual energy from the mouth of the jar and found that although the porcelain was fine and the shape was lifelike, it had no spiritual energy at all. It should be a modern imitation.
However, just as Zhuang Rui's gaze traveled downwards, he suddenly discovered a trace of spiritual energy. Although it was extremely rare, its color was very deep, indicating that the porcelain piece must be an old artifact.
Zhuang Rui has seen many objects in the past year, but this has never happened before. Usually, when spiritual energy enters the interior of an object, it can be immediately discerned whether there is spiritual energy inside. However, this time it appeared from nothing, revealing a hint of strangeness.
Zhuang Rui casually picked up a pair of gloves from the table and put them on. He then picked up the porcelain piece and looked at it from the rim. Sure enough, he sensed no spiritual energy. His gaze continued downwards. Still nothing! But when he reached the bottom of the jar, Zhuang Rui's eyes suddenly lit up.
On the base of the jar, which was inscribed with the words "Made during the Zhengtong Era," Zhuang Rui saw that faint reddish-purple spiritual energy again. He suddenly realized that this jar was a case of substitution, with the bottom of a genuine porcelain shard glued onto this fake jar.