Some people clean jade with a toothbrush after soaking it. The next day, they string it up and wear it. This is actually inappropriate. After taking the jade out, do not clean off the sap. Instead, place the jade in a well-ventilated, cool place for 1 to 2 months, allowing it to dry and solidify on the surface. After the sap dries, the jade will become more lustrous and smooth, a process known as patina or precious glaze.
At this point, you can start wearing jade ornaments. Gentlemen can find a good red string to tie them around their waist, but it's a bit more troublesome for girls, especially in the summer when they're wearing skirts—there's nowhere to put them then!
Zhuang Rui's words caused a burst of laughter from the surrounding area. At this time, more and more guests came and went in the hotel, and the sofa area was surrounded by layers of people. Some people outside who did not know the situation were desperately trying to squeeze in when they heard that Grandpa Gu was inside.
"Hey, youngest brother, don't you think we should start charging a fee too? Hehe."
Seeing such a grand occasion, Wei Ge joked with Zhuang Rui.
"What a pipe dream! If it were Master Gu, charging would be perfectly reasonable."
Zhuang Rui pursed his lips, thinking that as soon as he finished speaking, there would be people nitpicking.
"Young man, stop chatting. Are there any taboos surrounding this jade? Tell us all at once..."
When Zhuang Rui started chatting with the person next to him, the onlookers became noisy.
"There's nothing else to it. As everyone knows, 'playing with jade' simply means using the body's natural oils to nourish the jade, making it shed its dry, 'stone' nature and transform it into a smooth, 'jade' quality. However, this oil is not the sweat or grease from the tip of your nose or forehead. Some people feel that these areas are oily and will rub them with jade objects. This is a big no-no, and everyone should absolutely not do this."
When handling jade, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. In weather like this, it's best to soak the jade in clean water every one or two weeks.
By the way, some friends in the jade trade, especially those in Guangdong and Hong Kong, like to use metallographic sandpaper to polish jade, and they particularly like to use it to polish antique jade that has lost its luster. This method is somewhat short-sighted and may seem to yield quick results, but it is actually very harmful. It will seriously damage the vitality of the antique jade, and the unique, deep, and aged patina on the surface of the jade will disappear, leaving it with a strange, oily, shiny, and slippery appearance.
As Zhuang Rui finished speaking, several people in the crowd looked disappointed. They seemed to be the jade merchants Zhuang Rui had mentioned. Merchants are profit-driven, and this method is very effective in fooling people who are new to collecting antique jade, and they can sell it for a high price. However, after being polished with metallographic sandpaper, the antique jade is basically ruined.
"It takes three to five years to polish a piece of jade. How do you know when it's polished to perfection?"
Someone in the crowd asked a question.
"Hehe, the jade we're talking about that has been polished is called mature jade. Generally, ancient jade that has not been severely eroded in the soil and whose quality is not too bad can be basically polished after one or two years of handling. However, some ancient jade that has been severely eroded or whose quality is very poor will take longer to polish."
Jade can be considered mature jade if it is polished until it is smooth and lustrous, with a patina on the surface.
Whether or not jade will show any effect after being handled and polished depends heavily on its own quality. Some jade has excellent fineness and whiteness, and after only carving and polishing, it becomes as lustrous as mutton fat, requiring no handling at all. Similarly, some jade with a high degree of stoneiness will remain dry and stone-like even after years of handling. However, we are talking about unearthed jade, in which case handling is essential.
After Zhuang Rui finished speaking, he looked at Old Master Gu and said, "Uncle-Master, I've really emptied my chest. Please say a few words."
Zhuang Rui was telling the truth; that was all Uncle De had taught him, and if he continued, he would be exposed.
Chapter 175 Identifying Jade
As soon as Zhuang Rui finished speaking, everyone gathered around turned their gaze to Old Master Gu.
Gu Lao placed great importance on mentoring younger generations in the jade industry. He used to frequently travel to various jade associations to give lectures or teach apprentices, and many people knew him. However, in recent years, as Gu Lao has gotten older, he has rarely gone out to give lectures or attend various jade exhibitions. Today, having the opportunity to hear Gu Lao comment on jade is a great opportunity for everyone.
"You brat, you actually used your senior uncle as a shield..."
Seeing the expectant looks on everyone's faces, Gu Lao laughed and scolded Zhuang Rui, then took a piece of jade from his waist.
"The most popular way to play with ancient jade now is to combine fast and slow rubbing. As Xiao Zhuang just mentioned, almost no one tries intentional rubbing anymore. However, when I was young, I acquired a fine piece of jade and have been using the intentional rubbing method for decades. Let me share my experience with intentional rubbing with you."
As soon as the old man uttered these words, everyone was immediately shocked. Zhuang Rui had already mentioned the difficulty of the Yipan (意盘) and explained that it was almost a legendary method. They hadn't expected that the old man had actually passed down this method. Being able to hear the old man impart his experience firsthand, everyone felt that the trip was worthwhile. They began to discuss it in hushed tones, their eyes fixed on the jade artifact in the old man's hand.
As he spoke, Gu Lao handed the jade artifact in his hand to Zhuang Rui, saying, "Everyone knows the eight characters 'Sincerity can move even metal and stone.' In fact, this phrase comes from the ancient method of 'Yi Pan' (意盘, a method of contemplating jade). The ancients said something like this: 'Constantly caressing and contemplating the virtues of jade is enough to transform my temperament and improve my character, making me pure and free from the obscuration of selfish desires throughout my life. Sincerity can move even metal and stone.'"
I've been playing with this jade for almost forty years. Now, whenever I hold it in my hand, I feel a connection between myself and the jade, as if it has a life of its own, as if it can breathe. This old man has experienced many ups and downs, but whenever I have this jade in my hand, my mind calms down. I personally believe this is the effect of playing with it.
The old man's words drew everyone's attention to the jade piece in Zhuang Rui's hand. Many looked on with envy. Given the old man's discerning eye, the jade he handled must be of exceptional quality. Having been polished for forty years, and considering the inherent value of the jade itself, it was practically priceless.
The old man took out a jade pendant, which was not large, only the size of a child's palm. The front of the jade pendant was carved with a mythical beast, which was riding on the wind and clouds. It had short wings, a dragon's head with two feet, a horse's body, and a unicorn's feet. It was as fierce as a lion, with bulging eyes and long fangs in its mouth. The details were carved so vividly that even the fur was clearly visible.
Zhuang Rui recognized the shape; it should be a Pixiu, a mythical creature believed to ward off evil. However, what surprised him was the patina on the jade. Holding it in his hand, Zhuang Rui carefully examined the Pixiu pendant. It had six different patinas! Patina is usually formed later in life; two or three types of patina are relatively common on ancient jade, but four or more are extremely rare. Ancient jade with five patinas is considered priceless. This jade pendant had six patinas! No wonder the ancient master used the "intentional polishing" method to nurture the jade.
The jade pendant was tied with a dark red cord tied with a Chinese knot. Zhuang Rui pulled it hard and felt that it was very strong.
"Master Gu, is this a piece of warm jade?"
Zhuang Rui held the jade in his hand, feeling a warm, slippery sensation. He couldn't help but ask Old Master Gu a question.
"Yes, this is warm jade from Lantian. It's of very high quality. I acquired it by chance when I was young, and it's been with me for over forty years. Although I've played with other jades over the years, I've never replaced this one. Hehe, I've relied on it many times to ward off evil spirits and avoid misfortune."
The young people were quite skeptical of the old saying. They thought that the idea that jade could ward off evil was just a legend, and they had never heard of anyone being healthy and free from disasters just by carrying a piece of jade.
“Uncle-Master, I’ve heard that jade with five different colors of patina is very rare, and I’ve never even heard of jade with six colors of patina.”
"Hehe, don't tell me you haven't heard of it. Not many people have actually seen a six-colored jade artifact. The Palace Museum currently houses more than 30,000 pieces of ancient jade. And you can't find many with six colors."
As Gu Lao spoke, a hint of pride crept onto his face.
"This is an ancient jade from the third generation. When I first got it, it had only been unearthed for a short time. The surface color was similar to lime, and the texture was like mud. You couldn't even see the jade color when it was held up to the light. Now it's been polished quite a bit. The areas with more red staining are commonly known as 'baby's face'..."
Gu Lao took the jade Pixiu from Zhuang Rui and rubbed it carefully in his hands.
"Old Gu, how much is this piece of jade worth?"
The eldest brother, being a common man, immediately asked about the price, which was exactly what everyone wanted to know, so they all pricked up their ears to listen.
"Hehe, this jade has been with me for decades. You could bring me a mountain of gold, and I wouldn't trade it for it..."
The old man answered with a smile, but did not mention the true price of the jade Pixiu. The eldest brother cursed inwardly: "Old fox."
“Old Gu, we can’t reach the level of this Yipan. Could you please tell me about the methods for identifying ancient jade? I’ve been collecting jade for several years and spent a lot of money, but none of the ancient jade pieces I’ve bought are genuine. The jade industry is really too murky.”
A voice emerged from the crowd, and everyone nodded in agreement. Among those present were jade merchants, all of whom had been fooled and bought fake jade.
"Nine out of ten antique jade pieces on the market now are fake. Genuine antique jade is very expensive, and I don't really recommend beginners to collect antique jade. It's very difficult to find good pieces. Not only do you waste money, but you also get upset. Just recently, a large number of counterfeit Warring States and Han Dynasty jade artifacts suddenly appeared on the market. These included jade chariots and figures, jade chimes, jade walking sticks, and even jade horn cups. Some people spent hundreds of thousands, and some even spent millions, to buy these pieces."
"Grandpa, it must be fake, right?"
Someone in the crowd laughed.
"That's right. Even worse, one person bought six sets of jade burial suits, and not long after, these items kept appearing in the antique market, and they became cheaper and cheaper. You don't even need to have them appraised to know they're fake. So don't deliberately look for antique jade, otherwise you might be the next person to buy fake jade."
Old Master Gu's words immediately caused a burst of laughter from the onlookers.
Old Gu waved his hand and waited until the surroundings quieted down before saying, "Don't laugh, everyone. Even insiders often make mistakes, let alone outsiders. The batch of fake ancient jade I just mentioned happened in the life of an old friend of mine."
That was a doctoral student supervised by an old friend of mine, majoring in archaeology and museum studies. The young man often went to antique shops to pick out small items. Last year, he saw a batch of ancient jade artifacts in an antique shop, including jade scepters, jade knives, jade bi discs, jade huang pendants, and jade horn cups.
According to the shop owner, these jade artifacts date back to the Han Dynasty, with some even dating back to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, especially certain shapes. Items like the jade horn cup, jade bi disc, and jade huang pendant are typical examples of Han Dynasty jade artifacts.
As everyone knows, jade artifacts from the Han Dynasty, more than two thousand years ago, are considered the pinnacle of Chinese jade craftsmanship. Among them, the jade artifacts most representative of the Han Dynasty's craftsmanship are those used for daily life, decorative jade, and jade ornaments.
Jade horn cups are very important vessels among everyday jade items, serving as drinking vessels for royalty and nobility; while jade bi discs and jade huang pendants were both ritual jades and decorative jades. These jade artifacts generally employ round carving and high relief techniques, showcasing an exquisite and noble artistic style.
This antique shop attracted many peers in the industry to come and appraise the items. The student knew some of them. When the shop owner noticed that the student was very interested in these jade items, he told the student that if he wanted to buy them, he could transfer them to him at a discounted price.
The student, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old and with a certain economic foundation, bought the jade horn cup and some other jade artifacts after several rounds of bargaining. The jade horn cup was the most expensive among them. He subsequently visited the shop many times to buy antique jade. In the past year alone, he bought more than 70 pieces of Han Dynasty jade artifacts, spending a total of more than 400,000 yuan.
I happened to visit that city last month, and an old friend asked me to take a look. Well, as you all know, it was all modern jade that had been artificially aged. The reason these fake jade pieces look antique and have realistic patinas is because professional dealers use special techniques to create them.
"Grandpa, how can you fake the patina? And how can you tell the difference? I was fooled by this last year. I bought a Han Dynasty jade with three-color patina for 80,000 yuan, only to find out it was fake after authentication."
A voice came from the crowd.
"Hehe, that's because you're greedy. In the antique market nowadays, Han jade is almost impossible to find. You should know that jade from the Han Dynasty was not circulated as a commodity; it was produced and used under the monopoly of the emperor."
When did ordinary people begin using jade? It was during the Three Kingdoms period. Because of the chaos of war during the Three Kingdoms period, tomb raiding was rampant. Someone unearthed a jade burial suit from the Han Dynasty. After Cao Pi of the Three Kingdoms saw it, he found that the jade burial suit could not preserve the bones as the legends suggested, so he abolished the system of jade burial suits. From then on, jade artifacts began to be used by ordinary people.
Larger Han Dynasty jade artifacts are practically nonexistent on the market. The only ones that have survived are small pieces, such as jade sword ornaments and small jade bi pendants, and even those have a very low chance of ever appearing on the market. Most of the other items are fake.
As for jade counterfeiting, there are many methods to form staining, no less than a dozen. Let me briefly explain one of them. One is the chemical soaking method: the jade is placed in a chemical solution containing color. After soaking for several days, this staining will appear on the surface, usually in the form of reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, or other colors.
This is the most common method of "aging" jade artifacts, also known as "artificial dyeing." Most unscrupulous merchants use this method.
Another method of forgery involves creating a dark brown stain on the surface of jade, known as the smoking method. This involves placing the object in a fire to smoke it. After a short period of smoking, the surface of the jade will have a dark brown appearance, resembling that of jade buried deep underground, giving it the feel of ancient black lacquer jade.
Actually, it's quite simple to determine whether the patina is genuine or fake. Fake patina is usually bright and shiny. If you have any doubts about the jade you're about to buy, try rubbing it with an alcohol swab for a while and see if there's any patina on the swab. If there is, then it's suspicious and most likely fake.
Another sign is that under strong light, the jade's color is very uniform and has a hazy appearance, lacking transitional colors and appearing rather monochromatic. Such jade is also questionable, and it's best not to buy it if you encounter this situation.
Sigh, people nowadays are getting more and more restless. Before liberation, those old people who made jade look old still had some "honesty" to them. They would "conceal the age but not the material." They would carve new techniques and make the jade look old on old or new genuine Hetian white jade and then sell it for a high price.
If these things were sold today, they'd be considered "good stuff"! It's just a pity that the market now sells so-called jade, glass, plastic, quartz—anything goes.
As Gu Lao spoke, he became somewhat agitated. The emergence of these unscrupulous merchants was extremely detrimental to the development of the jade industry. It was because of these people that many people interested in jade collecting were deterred. The reason is simple: if you were to buy jade and suffer losses several times, would you dare to buy it again next time?
These counterfeiters, though not highly educated, are masters at understanding human psychology. They can produce whatever jade is in high demand in the market, and their workmanship, materials, and patina are so realistic that they can fool even newcomers and seasoned veterans who have been in the business for decades.
“Old Gu, look how many people have gathered here. The hotel is complaining. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest for a bit? We’re going to have a welcome dinner for you tonight.”
Seeing that the onlookers were still asking questions all at once, the middle-aged man who was with Gu Lao couldn't sit still any longer and walked up to Gu Lao and said in a low voice.
After hearing this, Gu Lao looked around and saw that the area was indeed completely surrounded. He said helplessly, "Alright, let's go upstairs first. Xiao Zhuang, I don't have time tonight. Let's have lunch together tomorrow."
Zhuang Rui had long felt uncomfortable being stared at by these people, so he quickly replied, "Okay, Uncle-Master, you go and rest first, I'll call you tomorrow."
Zhuang Rui and Wei Ge and the others went through a lot of trouble to help Old Master Gu onto the elevator. They were all covered in sweat. The fourth brother said with a smile, "Youngest brother, you antique dealers also have a thing for idol worship."
"Alright, go upstairs and take a shower."
Zhuang Rui saw that the people in the sofa area had not yet dispersed, and couldn't help but shiver. When the next elevator arrived, he quickly slipped inside.
"Wait a moment……"
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Zhuang Rui suddenly saw a familiar figure walk into the hotel.
Chapter 176 Business Opportunities in Jade Gambling
"What's wrong? Little one... Hey, where are you going?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui block the elevator door and run out of the elevator, Wei Ge hurriedly shouted, turned around and saw that everyone in the elevator was waiting. Helpless, he and Lao Si retreated out.
"Lei Lei, what are you doing here? Didn't you say you were going to stay in England for a while?"
The person Zhuang Rui had just seen was Liu Chuan's girlfriend, Miss Lei. Zhuang Rui was also wondering why it seemed like everyone he knew had come to Pingzhou. First it was Fatty Ma, then Old Master Gu, and now even Lei Lei had come.
"Zhuang Rui? Aren't you still working at Zhonghai? Oh... I know, you must be here for jade gambling."
Lei Lei was pleasantly surprised to see Zhuang Rui here.
After Qin Xuanbing and Lei Lei returned to Hong Kong, they talked to Zhuang Rui less often, especially after their recent trip to England, when they only contacted each other about once every week or two. Therefore, they were unaware that Zhuang Rui had resigned and was preparing to devote himself fully to the antique business.
Zhuang Rui felt somewhat guilty towards Qin Xuanbing because of his drunken experience before leaving Zhonghai, so he didn't call them to tell them he was coming to Guangdong.
"Ahem... well, I guess so. I've already resigned from the pawnshop, so I'll have more free time from now on..."
Old Master Gu thought he was there to gamble on stones, as did Lei Lei, and Zhuang Rui was too lazy to explain anymore.
Although Song Jun told him about the jade gambling event, Zhuang Rui did indeed intend to make a fortune. After studying antiques with Uncle De for several months and seeing a large number of rare and precious antiques, Zhuang Rui realized that with his millions of dollars, he wouldn't even make a sound in this industry. Without financial support, it would be a joke to try to keep the items he liked.