"Of course it's true, can't you see everything's laid out here..."
"Are there really so many treasures abroad? I'll go travel around sometime too..."
"There are fewer good items from abroad now, unless you go to some people's homes, it's not as simple as you think..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, everyone became excited. Little did they know that most of the goods abroad were made in China, and finding bargains on Taobao was not necessarily easier than finding them in China.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my friends, I was just lucky. Everything I saw in the art shop at first was a replica. It was only later, when I went to the warehouse, that I found this bronze mirror and the Picasso sketch. In my opinion, finding treasures abroad isn't necessarily easier than finding them in China..."
Seeing that everyone was eager to go abroad to find treasures, Zhuang Rui quickly offered some words of advice, saying that although many items were looted from abroad, most of them had already been collected by others.
Instead of going abroad, it's better to search among the people. After all, China has thousands of years of heritage, and there are countless good things being unearthed from the ground.
Of course, whether others will listen to Zhuang Rui's words is anyone's guess. It's said that Chinese people love to follow trends, and there's no guarantee that a few people will get jealous and go abroad to show off their antique appraisal skills.
"Uncle De, could you please take a look at this? I can only tell it's from the Sui or Tang Dynasty, but I have no idea about its exact origin..."
After returning to China, Zhuang Rui searched through many books on bronze artifacts, hoping to see if the bronze mirror had been passed down through generations. However, to his disappointment, there was no identical or similar artifact in history.
"Let's take it out and have a look..."
Uncle De was also very curious about the bronze mirror, but he couldn't touch it to examine it because of the glass. He couldn't just make assumptions out of thin air, could he?
Zhuang Rui nodded, took out his phone and called Yang Jian, the museum's security director, and also notified Huangfu Yun that, according to the museum's security regulations, each display case must be signed by three people before it can be opened.
In addition, each of the three individuals needs a key to open these display cases simultaneously. Zhuang Rui spent over 2 million RMB just to install this security system. This is also the most common anti-theft setup abroad. All three individuals must be present to open these display cases.
"President Zhuang, Director Huangfu, please sign your names first..."
Yang Jian arrived a little late. As soon as he arrived, he instructed the security guards who had accompanied him to draw a circle with a radius of about three meters around Zhuang Rui, thus isolating the collectors and experts.
Yang Jian held a form in his hand. After Zhuang Rui and Huangfu Yun signed it and marked the display case number to be opened, he took out his own key and inserted it into a keyhole at the bottom of the display case.
This key is a specially made magnetic key, which opens the display case based on the strength of the magnetism. After all three people inserted the key, the specially made bulletproof glass slowly rose up.
"Uncle De, what do you think..."
Zhuang Rui reached out and took the mirror down, and the projection of Guanyin Bodhisattva on the white wall immediately disappeared. This made some people who had doubted that Zhuang Rui was putting on a show completely believe in the magic of the bronze mirror.
Some self-proclaimed experts in miscellaneous bronze artifacts look at bronze mirrors with eager eyes, wishing they were the ones handling the mirrors.
When Zhuang Rui took out the bronze mirror, Uncle De put on a pair of white gloves, took the bronze mirror and a magnifying glass handed to him by someone, and began to examine it carefully.
After watching for about three or four minutes, Uncle De frowned slightly, took off his gloves, and gently rubbed the mirror with his index finger, looking thoughtful.
“Xiao Rui, the patterns on the back of this bronze mirror, although not very clear, you can barely make out some outlines. However, they should be Buddhist flying apsaras, and specifically, Central Plains style flying apsaras. In other words, your judgment on the era is basically correct…”
The flying apsaras paintings mentioned by Uncle De originated in Dunhuang. However, during the Northern Wei Dynasty, the flying apsaras paintings in Dunhuang were heavily influenced by Indian and Western Region flying apsaras paintings. They were generally Western Region flying apsaras paintings with many Western cultural characteristics.
The Central Plains style of flying apsaras paintings flourished from the Western Wei to the Sui Dynasty, and were mostly depicted as Buddhist celestial beings and Taoist immortals. Uncle De made this judgment because a Taoist hat could be barely found on the back of the bronze mirror.
Uncle De paused for a moment, then continued, "As for the allegorical effect of this bronze mirror, according to my observation, it should be closely related to the patterns formed during the polishing of the mirror. It is through these fine lines that are difficult to see with the naked eye that the shape of this Bodhisattva is outlined... As for the specific era, I think it should be the Sui Dynasty, because Guanyin statues from the Sui Dynasty are mostly seated, with dignified and compassionate appearances, vivid and smooth overall features, and flowing robes, which perfectly match the allegorical pattern..."
"Uncle De, you're truly amazing. The reflection effect of this Guanyin statue is indeed, as you said, caused by the mirror-like patterns. However, I've always hesitated to draw a conclusion about its dating. Well, I can add the date to the label later..."
As soon as Uncle De finished speaking, Zhuang Rui gave him a thumbs up. He was truly convinced, because with an ordinary magnifying glass, it was impossible to find the lines on the surface of the bronze mirror, but Uncle De made an accurate judgment simply by feeling it with his finger.
Compared to Zhuang Rui, who had to use his spiritual energy to discern clues, Uncle De was undoubtedly much more skilled. Although he hadn't been appraising objects much in the past two years, he was still as sharp as ever, and the knowledge he possessed was enough for Zhuang Rui to study for several years.
Through Uncle De's explanation, Zhuang Rui learned another trick. He hadn't noticed before that the Guanyin pattern he saw was the most common style in the Sui Dynasty. Could it really be used to date an object? It seems that when it comes to identifying objects, every little detail must be taken into account.
"Alright, everyone, let's all gather at the entrance. We have an academic exchange this afternoon after we finish eating..."
After putting the bronze mirror back in the display case, Zhuang Rui instructed Yang Jian to lead the security guards to clear the area.
Strictly speaking, the museum will officially open in the afternoon, when several travel agencies will organize tours for visitors.
Chapter 711 Platform (Part 1)
Although the National Tourism Administration is the direct governing body for tourist attractions at all levels across the country, some attractions also have connections with cultural departments due to their unique characteristics.
The relationship between travel agencies and various tourist attractions is very close. So after a leader in Beijing, who held a low-ranking but powerful position, spoke up, Zhuang Rui's museum became a very important part of the tour packages offered by major travel agencies.
After lunch, when we returned to the museum, the parking lot next to the museum was already full of various tour buses. At the entrance of the museum, there were tour guides holding small flags, tourists wearing hats from various travel agencies, and museum security personnel with walkie-talkies hanging on their ears. They checked the beautifully printed tickets and counted the number of visitors entering the museum. Everything seemed so orderly.
The museum's main gate is now sealed off by an electronic fence, allowing only two people to pass at a time for security personnel to check tickets. Zhuang Rui and his group entered from another side of the museum, which led directly to the conference room.
"Brother, I won't join in the fun. Let's keep in touch later. I'll be staying in Beijing for a few more days..."
After getting out of the car, while heading to the conference room, Fatty Ma squeezed next to Zhuang Rui. Zhuang Rui was so busy today that he didn't even have time to greet Fatty Ma, a very good friend.
Zhuang Rui looked at the sweating Ma Pangzi and said a little embarrassedly, "Brother Ma, I'm really sorry. I'll treat you to a meal when I have some free time..."
Hearing that his museum was opening and he was short of miscellaneous antiques, this brother drove over a hundred pieces of Shanxi lacquerware to him, ranging from the Han and Tang dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them were many fine pieces, and some of the gilded lacquerware was quite valuable.
According to archaeological evidence, the earliest period of lacquerware can be traced back to the Neolithic period. During the Shang, Zhou, Han and Tang dynasties, although lacquerware was also used in daily life, it was mostly used for decoration.
It wasn't until the late Tang and Ming-Qing dynasties, when porcelain developed rapidly and replaced lacquerware as a decorative item, that lacquerware became more commonly used as practical tools in homes or the imperial court.
According to Zhuang Rui's estimate, the value of these lacquerware pieces is probably over 30 million.
Thirty million might not be much to Zhuang Rui and Fatty Ma now, but Zhuang Rui is indebted to them because even if he had 30 million in cash, he probably wouldn't be able to receive these items.
Because of this batch of lacquerware, Zhuang Rui plans to further divide the miscellaneous items hall into several smaller exhibition halls, such as a jade exhibition hall and a lacquerware exhibition hall. Perhaps in the future, other exhibition halls will be opened based on a certain category of collections.
The ordering of display cases for the lacquerware exhibition hall is currently underway. It is believed that before long, lacquerware, which once enjoyed great popularity in history, will be on display for visitors.
"Forget about dinner, just take my brother to Myanmar again sometime when you have time, haha..."
Fatty Ma patted Zhuang Rui on the shoulder and continued, "Brother, I rely on these eyes to make a living. I've seen so many people, but I can't see through you. Keep up the good work..."
Just over a year ago, when Fatty Ma met Zhuang Rui, Zhuang Rui only had a net worth of two or three million, which could barely be considered moderately wealthy. However, now, in terms of wealth, Zhuang Rui is on par with Fatty Ma.
Ma Pangzi has endured a lot of hardship and taken many detours to get to where he is today. It took him more than 20 years of hard work to build his current wealth. Zhuang Rui, on the other hand, has achieved all of this in less than two years. This makes Ma Pangzi, who is in his prime at over 40, feel a bit like an old general.
Watching Fatty Ma's obese figure disappear through the door, Zhuang Rui felt a mix of emotions. Wasn't it also thanks to these eyes that he had achieved everything he had now?
"Teacher Zhuang, why aren't you going in..."
"Teacher Zhuang, I have a few things on me. How about we discuss them sometime?"
"Brother Zhuang, would you be interested in exchanging some of the items in your museum?"
Zhuang Rui didn't have time to reminisce about the past today. He had just drifted off into thought when people started greeting him, and of course, the conversation always revolved around the antique trade.
"Sure, sure, we'll get in touch later..."
"Hey... Mr. Liu, please don't bother with my stuff. The items in my exhibition hall are only for sale, never for sale..."
Zhuang Rui casually struck up a conversation with the group. These people were very likely to become his clients, and it was essential to maintain good relationships with these collectors and experts from all over the country.
The antique trade is all about communication. Some people exchange their collections out of interest and hobby, but many more do so simply to make money, treating it as a means of survival. And there are quite a few people across the country who rely on this trade for their livelihood.
Friends, don't assume that having a good item guarantees a good price. The sale of an antique is influenced by many factors, such as the auction house's promotional efforts, the intensity of market speculation, and the buyer's purchasing power.
Moreover, auction houses are selective in which items they bid on; not just anything can be consigned for auction. For example, transactions involving bronze artifacts generally have to be conducted privately.
Therefore, many people, even if they have valuable collections, keep them in their possession for the reasons mentioned above, unwilling to sell them, all in order to find a suitable buyer.
The museum's economic strength is undeniable, and Zhuang Rui has expressed his desire to buy antiques on various occasions, so many collectors have expressed their willingness to have further exchanges with Zhuang Rui.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, we entered the museum's conference room. The huge conference room was packed, making it a grand gathering for the antique world.
Although Mr. Ma's museum operates on a membership system, it usually only organizes small gatherings of thirty to fifty people. A nationwide gathering like today is probably only possible when the country is discussing certain reforms.
"Ladies and gentlemen, friends, on behalf of Dingguang Museum and General Manager Zhuang, I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the opening ceremony of Dingguang Museum..."
The meeting was chaired by Huangfu Yun. Deputy Director Huangfu, displaying his lawyer-like eloquence, uttered some rambling remarks before continuing, "Today, we colleagues have gathered here not only to exchange collecting experiences and insights, but also because our General Manager Zhuang has a suggestion: to establish a membership-based collecting website, where everyone present will become a member..."
"Director Huangfu, what is this membership? What are the benefits of joining?"
"Yes, this old man has never been online before..."
"You can't see the actual product online, so it's not very meaningful..."
Upon hearing Huangfu Yun's next words, the room erupted in discussion. To be honest, although people talk about keeping up with the times now, back in 2005, very few of these collectors knew anything about surfing the internet. They spent their time wandering around the antique market.
Some didn't understand, some were indifferent, but some people's expressions turned rather unpleasant. Mr. Ma's museum, for example, used a membership system, and he wondered if this website's membership system would affect him. He coughed, picked up a microphone from the round table where he was sitting, and said, "Everyone, please be quiet and let Director Huangfu finish speaking..."
Mr. Ma is quite influential in the antique world. About a quarter of the people present are members of his museum who pay him their annual dues. So, as soon as Mr. Ma finished speaking, the room gradually quieted down.
"Ahem, let me explain..."
Seeing that Huangfu Yun was losing his composure, Zhuang Rui took the microphone from him and said, "This website is my idea. We all come from all over the country, and it's not easy for us to get together and exchange ideas so often..."
But the internet is different. No matter where you are, you can exchange experiences and lessons learned online, and you can take pictures of items you want to sell and post them online. You can also leave purchase requests on the website...
With this platform, everyone can privately view and trade items according to their needs. As the saying goes, "One person's plan is short-sighted, but many people's plans are long-sighted." I believe that among the hundreds of collectors here, there must be items that everyone likes and needs. This kind of exchange is much better than having to rummage through auction houses and antique markets, right?
Seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, Zhuang Rui paused, took a sip of water, and continued, "Of course, this website is only for information exchange between collectibles... As for the authenticity of the collectibles and subsequent transactions, the website does not get involved; those will need to be authenticated privately by you all. I think with Professor Ma's authentication team, this issue shouldn't be difficult to resolve..."
Zhuang Rui's words made Mr. Ma's brows relax, which had been looking rather unpleasant. You see, Mr. Ma's members mainly joined because of the benefit of having his antiques appraised for free.
Zhuang Rui's meaning was clear: the website was only for information exchange and he wouldn't handle the authentication aspect. In other words, it not only didn't conflict with his business, but it also complemented it greatly.
"Xiao Zhuang's suggestion is good. Everyone here is an experienced collector and expert. The items they bring are unlikely to be fake, and there is a lot of room for exchange (trading), which is incomparable to those current collecting websites..."
Mr. Ma's next words made everyone's hearts light up. Although there were only a few hundred people present, they were all well-known figures in the collecting world, and they had a lot of good items in their possession.
Due to geographical limitations, people are likely to communicate and trade in their own or nearby cities, which narrows the scope of their exchanges.
However, with the website Zhuang Rui mentioned, everyone can see what others want to sell or buy, and their choices will become much more extensive.
Chapter 712 The Platform (Part 2)
After the audience had a moment to process Mr. Ma's words, Zhuang Rui continued, "Mr. Ma is right. Furthermore, our circle is not open to the public; only members can access the website through their own VIP accounts. This prevents unscrupulous individuals from uploading fake items for malicious transactions… I would also like to clarify that while there's always the possibility of being fooled in the antique trade, through authentication, anyone who attempts to maliciously and repeatedly trade fake antiques will have their membership revoked…"
"Teacher Zhuang, how can we determine if someone is engaging in malicious trading?"
"Yes, it's normal to misjudge. We can't just say it was malicious just because it happened a few times, can we?"
"That's true. Even you teachers probably can't guarantee that you'll always buy genuine items, right?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, the room erupted in a cacophony of voices and discussions. However, since Zhuang Rui was speaking in the interest of everyone, not many people raised objections. The few who did speak up were all people in the antique circle who frequently traded antiques, and what Zhuang Rui had just said had the greatest impact on them.
Moreover, everyone here is a prominent figure in this circle. If every item they bring out turns out to be fake after authentication, none of them would be able to bear the shame. They probably wouldn't even need to be expelled; they would be too embarrassed to show their faces in public anymore.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I haven't finished yet. Here's what I'm thinking: let's all elect nine respected people in the antique circle to form an expert evaluation panel."
Before each transaction, if the item is found to be fake, the results of the appraisal must be reported to this evaluation panel. Nine experts will conduct a comprehensive appraisal of the item and vote anonymously to determine whether the transaction was malicious.