Chapter 128 Things of the Same Kind
The old man cursed and swore, his breath coming out of his nostrils, and kept insulting the family of the president of a certain calligraphy and painting collection association.
Upon hearing this, Lin Sicheng knew that he was referring to Ding Liang.
Take, for example, the teacher Ma who was good friends with Lin Sicheng, who was so poor that he gave the Qianlong Emperor's iron seal to Lin Changqing.
The younger man was a little better; seeing someone approaching the stall, he whispered a reminder: "Dad!"
The old man raised his eyelids slightly.
Two adults and one child; the man was handsome, the woman was beautiful, and a chubby little boy followed behind.
She's dressed smartly, but she's too young, which suggests she lacks taste. It also implies she has little purchasing power.
The old man glanced at it only once and then ignored it.
The young man was quite enthusiastic and hurried over: "Would you two like to take a look? It's an authentic work by Ma Lin from the Southern Song Dynasty, guaranteed genuine!"
Lin Sicheng smiled and looked at the old man: "Didn't Chairman Ding of the Municipal Calligraphy and Painting Association just appraise it?"
The young man's face stiffened: his father had been cursing all the way; he'd heard everything he was supposed to hear. So how could he guarantee it was genuine?
He gave an awkward laugh: "Chairman Ding has poor judgment!"
Lin Sicheng remained noncommittal: "Do you have a flashlight or a magnifying glass? I'd like to borrow them!"
Yes, yes!
The young man nodded hurriedly and rummaged through his father's bag, while the old man pursed his lips but didn't say anything.
The items were handed over; Lin Sicheng took the magnifying glass, while Ye Anning took the flashlight.
Both are ink paintings on silk, with a vacuum film on the surface, similar to the lamination technique used on advertising cards, but much thinner.
One depicts a hilly, watery town with a simple composition and elegant brushstrokes. The painting features high hills, dense forests, lush vegetation, and a misty atmosphere amidst wind and rain.
The scene is very layered, from far to near: distant hills, dense forests, strong grass, ponds, thatched cottages, and slanting wind and drizzle.
There are many scenic spots, but the layout is harmonious. It has both the grandeur of mountains and rivers and the vitality of plants. Even amidst wind and rain, it exudes a sense of tranquility and serenity.
The artistic conception is extremely profound and wonderful.
Looking at the composition: it is a typical "remnant mountains and waters" layout pioneered by Ma Yuan of the Southern Song Dynasty. It only takes a corner of the mountains and forests, and through the lushness of the huge mountains and forests, it forms a strong sense of contrasting line expansion with the still life or figures that occupy a very small area on the opposite side.
Looking at the brushwork: first, the mountains are depicted with vigorous "axe-cut strokes," then dense forests, rivers, and still lifes are swept out with fine, fragmented brushstrokes from the side peaks. The lines are thick when they should be thick and thin when they should be thin, with strength within softness and softness within power.
Then, using the ink layering technique, the ink color gradually lightens, vividly depicting the twilight sky over Jiangnan.
Lin Sicheng counted carefully and found that at least seven layers were affected.
Looking back, the whole painting is subtly translucent: clouds and mist flow in the blank spaces, and waves surge in the heart of the river. There are both churning clouds and rolling waves. A quick glance feels like a vast expanse within reach.
In later generations, famous figures referred to Ma Yuan as "Ma Yijiao" and Ma Lin as "Ma Xiaojing," meaning "a small scene that reveals the ends of the earth."
Therefore, judging solely from the painting technique and brushwork, this painting really does seem like a work by Ma Lin.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Sicheng picked up the magnifying glass again to look at the seals: one was "Yu Chi Sheng", one was "Ma Lin", and one was "Ma Family Collection".
The carving is exquisite, with consistent depth, but there's one flaw: it's too new. All three seals are exactly the same.
There were two more seals in the middle, one reading "Jia Dongnan" and the other "Shanghu Gaoren," which should be collector's seals. But Lin Sicheng couldn't recall them.
However, judging solely from the highly evocative style and unique painting technique, Lin Sicheng still believed that this portrait was an authentic work by Ma Lin.
Seeing Lin Sicheng's eyes grow brighter and brighter, Ye Anning said in a very low voice, "It feels so new!"
“It’s very new!” Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, “But judging from the painting skills alone, you should have seen similar paintings when you were with your teacher’s wife at the art gallery, right?”
Ye Anning paused for a moment, then nodded.
The Palace Museum houses paintings by Ma Yuan and his son Ma Lin, including Ma Yuan's "Treading the Song" and "Spring Walk on a Mountain Path," and Ma Lin's "Layered Ice Silk" and "Listening to the Pine Breeze."
Recalling those two paintings, there are many similarities with the two in front of me, especially the composition of the latter two paintings, which is "freehand sketching of small scenes" and the brushwork of "delicate brushstrokes", which are exactly the same as the one in front of me.
But as I said before, it's too new... no, you could say it's completely new.
Firstly, the silk, although light yellow, is the natural color of the silk after it has been dyed with plant materials such as bark and acorn.
If stored for eight or nine hundred years, the silk would inevitably age, its color would turn dark yellow, and it would completely lose its luster, never exhibiting the "new shine" visual appearance you see before you.
Secondly, the ink: In any ink wash painting, the dark corners under the hills and tree roots are always painted with thick ink, almost pure black. But after eight or nine hundred years, the ink will inevitably fade, tending towards a "grayish-black" color. But this painting remains pure black.
Thirdly, the ink. The ink on this painting is exactly the same as the inkpad she just bought, and it's even redder than the lipstick in her bag.
In addition, there are mounting materials: silk brocade, scrolls, backing paper... basically, there's nothing that isn't new.
Ye Anning didn't speak, but gestured with her eyes, and Lin Sicheng nodded repeatedly.
It is indeed quite new, but Lin Sicheng believes that even if it is new, it does not necessarily prove that the painting is fake.
He quickly looked up and asked, "How much is this painting?"
The young man's eyes lit up: "Five hundred thousand!"
Lin Sicheng nodded, "Oh, let me take another look!"
The old man sitting on the stool paused for a moment, then gave a wink. The young man immediately understood: "It can be lowered a little, but not too much lower!"
Lin Sicheng suddenly understood: at a glance, this father and son were novice collectors. Of course, they could also be in a hurry to get money and sell their items.
Lin Sicheng chuckled again: "Don't rush me, I haven't finished reading it yet!"
It means to really look, not just turn around and leave.
He picked up the magnifying glass again and aimed it at another image.
A lone reed floats on the river, a small boat floats among the reeds, and on the boat, a plump old man is curled up at the bow, fast asleep.
The reeds sway gently, the cloth clothes are wrinkled, the autumn wind is bleak, and the water ripples.
It is a replica of Ma Yuan's "Autumn River Fishing Retreat" which is treasured in the National Palace Museum in Taipei: the reeds are outlined with the "iron coin and silver hook" method, the reed leaves are depicted with focal points, the water ripples are laid out with scattered dots, and the ink color is transitioned in five gradations.
It can be said that it perfectly embodies Ma Yuan's "a corner of the scenery" and Ma Lin's "a small landscape with a grand view".
Besides the poem inscribed on Ma Yuan's original work, there is also another poem by Wang Wei, "Autumn Evening in the Mountain Dwelling":
After a fresh rain in the empty mountains, the weather turns autumnal in the evening.
The bright moon shines among the pines, and the clear spring flows over the rocks.
The bamboo rustles as washerwomen return, and the lotus stirs as fishing boats descend.
Spring's beauty may fade as it may, but the noble prince may linger on his own.
The handwriting is exactly the same as the previous poem, and it doesn't seem like a forgery. Therefore, Lin Sicheng suspected that it was very likely written by Ma Yuan.
In addition to the seals in the previous painting, there are two more: one is "Ma Yuan" and the other is "Yao Fu".
Both of these seals were inscribed by Ma Yuan, the father of Ma Lin.
Just like the previous one: the painting technique and artistic conception are so realistic that they look unmistakable.
Judging from the silk, ink, seal, and mounting, it looks fake no matter how you look at it.
However, the likelihood of it being an authentic work by Lin Sicheng is still higher, exceeding 80%...
After looking at it once, Lin Sicheng looked at the edges and corners: one corner of the membrane at the bottom of the silk was slightly curled up, and there was a hole about the size of a match head.
He touched it casually, then leaned in to smell it; the sweet fragrance carried a faint bitterness.
My eyelids twitched: beeswax and cinnabar... my chances have increased by another ten percent, to ninety percent!
But the moment was fleeting; Lin Sicheng straightened up without changing his expression and asked, "How much is this one?"
"This one is a bit more expensive, around 700,000, or maybe a little less... But don't worry, both of these are definitely genuine works by Ma Lin..."
The young man, somewhat impatient, rummaged through his bag again and pulled out a laminated piece of paper: "Look if you don't believe me!"
Lin Sicheng glanced at it, and his eyelids twitched again:
At the top is the organization: Cultural Relics Export Appraisal Committee. Below that is the content: Both works are genuine pieces by Ma Lin, a court painter of the Southern Song Dynasty... Prohibited from leaving the country.
Below are the signatures: Xu Senyu (first director of the Palace Museum), Zhang Heng (calligraphy and painting appraiser), Xie Zhiliu (calligraphy and painting expert)... a total of six.
Then comes the date and official seal: July 18, 1950, "Tianjin Appraisal Station of the Cultural Relics Export Appraisal Committee".
This institution was established after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its core task is to review applications for the export of cultural relics and to prohibit the export of first-class cultural relics and cultural relics of important historical and artistic value.
It doesn't verify authenticity, but its conclusions are more reliable than those of institutions that actually authenticate products.
Unfortunately, it was a photocopy.
Lin Sicheng sighed: "Where's the original?"
The young man paused for a moment: "It's lost!"
"Then you dare to ask for 1.2 million?"
The young man moved his lips, speechless.
If the originals were still available, these two paintings would not have ended up in his father's hands, much less here.
You won't run into an expert who'll say: "It's a fake, a new fake, and the fake is a poor imitation."
It's even less likely that it will only sell for 1.2 million.
He sighed: "Eight hundred thousand, two paintings... I'm not kidding you, back in 1990, my dad bought them for eighteen thousand!"
With purchasing power around 1990, 180,000 was roughly equivalent to 2 million today. It was like a discount that was already down to the knee, and then another cut.
Based on their current value, these two paintings are worth at least three million.
If considered from the perspective of "skill research" and "restoration of ancient crafts", its value is even greater.
Lin Sicheng shook his head: "Too high!"
Ye Anning's eyes darted around, and seemingly casually pointed to the curled-up membrane corner and the small hole: "What is this?"
The young man hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "It's nothing, five hundred thousand!"
It's impossible for there to be nothing there: that small hole was clearly left after sampling and testing.
He figured these two young men probably didn't understand, but they'd definitely ask someone. So, he directly lowered the price by 300,000.
His father was about to say something when he turned around and glared at him: "Why don't you do it?"
His father sat back down, and the young man turned his head: "It really can't go any lower!"
It really can't go any lower. If it goes any lower, the father and son will start fighting amongst themselves, and this leak will either turn into a disaster or not.
Just then, Lin Sicheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Go to the east corner of the main gate, there's a branch there!"
The father and son breathed a sigh of relief.
Five hundred thousand is certainly a huge loss, but from another perspective: after selling for seventeen years, everyone who sees it says it's fake, and we've had enough of it long ago.
Losing a little is better than losing everything.
Almost non-stop, the father and son packed up the support poles and scrolls.
Banks are closed for the National Day holiday, but at the request of the cultural relics center and the district, a branch office was specially set up at the corner of the museum to serve customers with large transactions during the Cultural Expo.
But no one ever went inside; the two tellers were almost asleep, so the process was extremely fast.
After the transfer was completed, the father and son felt a sense of relief: after buying for more than ten years, they finally sold it.
The father and son exchanged a glance, hurriedly said goodbye, as if afraid that Lin Sicheng would change his mind.
Once everyone was at the door, the young man turned his head again and said, "There's also a painting called 'Pine and Crane Longevity' by Dai Jin from the Ming Dynasty. Would you like to take a look?"
Lin Sicheng's eyes lit up slightly: "Where is the painting?"
“It’s at home, but it’s very expensive, at least two million…” The young man gestured, “But if you want to see it, we’ll have to go to Shanghai by tomorrow at the latest… the day after tomorrow.”
Where can I watch it?
"Let's stay here; the banks in other places are closed!"
"Okay!" Lin Sicheng took out his phone: "Leave your phone number!"
After exchanging phone numbers, the father and son hurriedly left the bank.
Lin Sicheng, carrying two long boxes, followed behind at a leisurely pace.
As he reached the bottom of the steps, he was taken aback: Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin were standing by the roadside, probably having just finished get off work.
But his expression was strange; his four eyes blinked and looked back and forth.
Look at the father and son running faster and faster like thieves, and then look at Lin Sicheng standing at the bank entrance with the scroll between his legs.
Suddenly, Hao Jun was startled and pointed to the long box under his arm: "Ma Lin's 'Autumn Tomb Painting' and a copy of Ma Yuan's 'Autumn River Fishing Retreat'?"
Caught red-handed, Lin Sicheng didn't deny it: "Yes!"
How much did it cost?
"Five hundred thousand!"
Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief: "The loss wasn't much!"
pay?
Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "Director Guan, will the Municipal Appraisal Bureau be open as usual tomorrow?"
"Of course, we're on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Otherwise, we'd have to call the police."
Guan Xingmin smacked his lips. "You want to get tested, right? But fine, I advise you not to..."
Hao Jun gritted his teeth and laughed, "Kukuku."
If Lin Sicheng had to pay two or three million, they would definitely be worried, but five hundred thousand is nothing...
Lin Sicheng made up the money by repairing two porcelain bowls, and as a close friend, I naturally felt schadenfreude.
It's also because Lin Sicheng didn't have many achievements in calligraphy and painting; all he had was a feather duster and a piece of calligraphy by Dong Qichang.
However, the former is a bamboo carving and the latter is Sanskrit, which led them astray: people thought that Lin Sicheng did not rely on his calligraphy and painting skills for those two pieces.
Furthermore, these two paintings are far older than Ma Lan's Sanskrit Heart Sutra painting. Almost every well-known calligraphy and painting expert in the city has seen them, and everyone who has seen them says they are fake.
The key point is that all the necessary tests were done, but none of them came back correct.
Of course, some doubts remain: what if all the experts were wrong, the instruments malfunctioned, and Lin Sicheng was the only one who managed to get the good deal?
For example, Emperor Qianlong's iron seal, and the bronze incense burner in the market.
Hao Jun's smile faded: "Old Guan is right, let's not rush to inspect, let's go eat first. And while we're at it, let's broaden our horizons..."
"Let's do it another day, tomorrow is fine too!" Lin Sicheng shook his head with a smile, "I have things to do today!"
What's up? Accompanying Ye Anning?
That's true. Compared to that, 500,000 is nothing at all.
Five million is nothing...
The two women smiled indulgently, "Okay, okay, another day!"
After saying goodbye, Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin left first.
Seeing that no one was around, Ye Anning lowered her voice, but her eyes gleamed with excitement: "A genuine work by Ma Lin?"
See, Ye Anning has no doubts!
Lin Sicheng nodded: "Yes, it's an original!"
"But why is it so new?"
"The process is very complicated; we need to retest before we can draw a conclusion!"
Ye Anning's eyes brightened even more: "What about the calligraphy that Dai Jin wrote?"
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say, but it's very likely!"
The paintings of Dai Jin, the founder of the Zhejiang School and a representative figure of the Ming Dynasty court painting school, only sell for two million.
Multiply by three elements (heaven, earth, and man) and it's about right.
Then think back to the expressions on the father and son's faces when they were leaving, talking about Dai Jin's paintings: regret mixed with pain, hope mixed with anticipation... exactly the same as when they were selling these two paintings: they were afraid of losing too much money, and they were also afraid that Lin Sicheng would not buy them.
Could it be something of the same kind?
I must go see it tomorrow...
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