Chapter 275 Emperor Qianlong's Collection Seal
Actually, the man isn't old; he's in his early thirties, in the prime of his life.
The woman was also very beautiful, with delicate features and a radiant charm.
Looking at their eyebrows and eyes again, it feels like the two of them look more and more alike?
In a flash, Ye Anning snorted: "Lin Sicheng, let me introduce you. This is my college classmate, Lu Meng. She's great in every way, except she has a big mouth."
The girl glared at Ye Anning, then smiled at Lin Sicheng: "I'm used to joking with Anning, don't mind me. This is my brother..."
As he spoke, the man extended his hand, a hint of reserve on his face: "Lu Zhen!"
Lin Sicheng reached out and shook hands: "Lin Sicheng!"
Even after just a brief introduction, Lin Sicheng could tell that Ye Anning and this classmate had a decent relationship, and that she also knew the classmate's brother.
But most likely, the two had a past conflict, otherwise, given Cousin Ye's composure, she wouldn't have started by calling someone a "country bumpkin."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two parted ways. Ye Anning, her chubby cheeks puffed out, said, "When I was in school, I always lived at my uncle's house. My parents were always busy and never came to visit me at school. It was always my uncle and aunt who came. I don't really like spending money, so over time, my classmates assumed I was from a single-parent family, or even an orphan..."
"But everyone else just guesses and doesn't say anything. Only Lu Meng is so outspoken... Once, I was shopping with her when her brother came to pick her up. He was drunk and the first thing he said was: 'Lu Meng, what are you doing playing with a kid who has no parents?'"
Lin Sicheng looked puzzled: No... Princess Ye, what kind of old-fashioned plot is this, pretending to be weak to deceive others, or a dragon disguised as a fish?
Four years of university and your classmates still don't know what your family does?
"The teacher didn't hit him?"
“That year, my uncle had just been transferred to Baoji, and I didn’t have time to complain. Later, Lu Meng apologized to me, and I forgot about it. But when I ran into him today, I remembered it…”
Ye Anning looked indignant. "Lin Sicheng, didn't you notice the way that person looked at you and me?"
Lin Sicheng glanced at Ye Anning, then at his own attire: a cotton T-shirt, casual pants, and sneakers—he certainly didn't look very wealthy.
But when I go to the cultural relics bureau to see the leaders or give lectures at the Academy of Cultural Heritage, don't I dress like this?
Thinking back to that laugh earlier, and the way the brother and sister looked at him and Ye Anning, especially the brother's expression?
He raised his hands and looked at them again: After three months of being out in the field, and then coming back to be in contact with cultural relics and chemicals every day, it's no wonder his skin couldn't get better.
No matter how I look at it, I feel like I'm just a bricklayer.
"Cousin Ye, what does your classmate's family do?"
"When you run a pawnshop in the capital, you sometimes hold auctions too!"
With both connections and money, one's assets should be at least tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions.
Then, considering my current appearance and Cousin Ye's identity... tsk, could this be the subject of a short drama?
"I'll go to their shop sometime and get revenge for you."
"Hey, when do you have time?"
The two whispered among themselves, neither of them taking it seriously.
Lu Zhen was furious: to maintain his composure, he had stubbornly held back his anger. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became: when had he ever been called a country bumpkin?
"Your classmate's surname is Ye, right? Where does he work now?"
"I heard she went to Xi'an with her uncle."
"Not very capable, but as petty as a pinhead?" Lu Zhen looked down at him. "What's so unsophisticated about your brother?"
"Who told you to say he doesn't have parents?" Lu Meng said dismissively. "Besides, how do you know he's incompetent? What if the boy is a rich kid?"
"What, a rich kid?"
Lu Zhen scoffed, "Look at his face and arms, aren't they unusually dark? But his neck is very white. And look at his hands, they're all chapped and cracked, what kind of second-generation rich kid looks like that?"
Lu Meng was taken aback: She really hadn't noticed?
But in the middle of summer, what else besides carrying bricks on a construction site could cause such sunburn and chapped skin?
Thinking back to what I just said: even an antique inkstone worth tens of thousands of coins still feels expensive...
"Then what are they doing here?"
"Of course it's about finding a bargain! Isn't your classmate also studying cultural heritage preservation?"
Lu Zhen was extremely certain, "Believe it or not, they're definitely looking for items that are estimated to be worth several thousand, or even starting at no reserve..."
"Can this...make money?"
"Making money? Losing a little is more likely..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Zhen paused, a strange look appearing on his face.
Not far away, just two counters apart, Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning were bending over, looking at the items in the counters.
Upon closer inspection, it was right in the corner of the exhibition hall, and that area was filled with items that Lu Zhen had mentioned were "estimated at several thousand," or even items that would be auctioned off without a reserve price.
Lu Zhen gave a strange smile and walked over.
Lu Meng realized what was happening too late and reached out to pull him back, but it was too late.
Lu Meng knew her brother, who was born of the same mother, very well: he seemed easygoing and gentle, but in reality, he was not very magnanimous and not as easy to talk to as he appeared.
Besides, someone with a lukewarm personality wouldn't be suited to run a pawnshop.
She sighed and followed behind...
The two were engrossed in their reading when they heard a noise behind them and instinctively straightened up.
Lu Zhen smiled and said, "What a coincidence?"
Ye Anning squinted: The exhibition hall is only so big, you can bump into each other in a circle, what's so coincidental about it?
This person was clearly angry because he called him a "country bumpkin," and probably got angrier the more he thought about it, so he came looking for trouble.
Just as she was about to say something, Lin Sicheng tapped the counter: "It is quite a coincidence, would you two like to take a look together?"
Hmm, this kid's pretty savvy?
Lu Zhen nodded: "Okay, I happen to know a little bit about it too!"
As he spoke, he craned his neck to take a closer look and exclaimed, "Wow! A Ming Dynasty bronze toad-shaped water pitcher! This is a fine piece!"
"Really?" Lin Sicheng turned around and glanced at him. "I think it's pretty good too!"
"Of course it's good. According to Wen Zhenheng's 'Treatise on Superfluous Things' from the Ming Dynasty: 'Water droppers made of ancient bronze and jade, those with designs such as amulets, toads, celestial chickens, deer, half-cormorant ladles, and golden goose pots are all the best.'"
There are bronze castings of sleeping oxen, with a shepherd boy riding the ox as the spout—these are the most vulgar. Pottery wares include official, Ge, white Ding, square and round standing melons, reclining melons, double peaches, lotus pods, stems, eggplants, and various pot shapes. Xuande kilns have polychrome peach ewers, pomegranates, double melons, and double mandarin duck ewers, but none are as elegant as the bronze ones.
"Look at the label, isn't it a Ming Dynasty bronze toad-shaped water dropper? And look at the shape, it's neat and symmetrical, stable and dignified. And look at the carving, the eyes are clearly defined, the dots are clearly defined, lifelike... And look at the patina, dry and even... Tsk, only estimated at eight thousand?"
Lin Sicheng glanced at him: He seemed quite composed before, but he's actually a chatterbox?
He nodded: "Okay, I'll write it down. I'll try filming it tomorrow?"
"Oh, you're going to film too?" Lu Zhen pretended to be interested. "Lu Meng, you should write that down too!"
Lu Meng hesitated, while Ye Anning secretly sneered: "Showing off one's skills in front of Guan Yu!"
Lin Sicheng had just told her: The bumps on the toad's back, both in size and spacing, looked as if they had been measured with a ruler.
Moreover, it is completely free of burrs. This kind of craftsmanship cannot be replicated by hand, not only in the Ming Dynasty, but even in modern times.
To put it simply: it's laser-carved!
The group moved forward, and Lu Zhen paused for a moment, then pointed to the counter: "Lu Meng, what do you think?"
Lu Meng glanced at it: a small golden seal, about the size of a fingernail.
Next, look at the label: Han Dynasty, Jin Dynasty, Bridge-shaped Seal.
Inscription: Fire crossbow.
Weight: 18g.
RMB: 8,000-15,000.
Lu Zhen winked at Lu Meng, pretending to mean that it was good stuff and she should write it down quickly.
Lu Meng hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Lin Sicheng glanced at him, unsure of what to say.
What is the firing of a crossbow?
According to the "Han Dynasty Official System", the official in charge of issuing crossbows had a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain).
Bamboo slips from the Yinwan Han Tomb: Donghai Commandery was assigned one crossbowman and one assistant.
To put it bluntly: the military officer in charge of crossbowmen under the prefecture in the Han Dynasty was roughly equivalent to the current county armed forces minister.
In the Han Dynasty, who were qualified to use gold seals? Marquises, the Three Dukes, and Grand Generals.
Only high-ranking officials with a salary of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain measure) use silver seals, while military officers with a salary of 600 shi dare to use gold seals; even if their entire clan is exterminated nine times, it wouldn't be enough.
Let's talk about how expensive Han seals are:
The "Seal of the Marquis of Guannei" with a gold tortoise-shaped knob sold for 74 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2006, and then for 190 million at China Guardian Auction in Hong Kong in 2023.
The bronze tortoise-shaped seal of the "Cavallerialist Commander's Seal" (a military officer in charge of cavalry, of equal rank to the crossbowman, with a salary of 600 shi) sold for 62 million at Bonhams Paris in 2009.
A bronze tile-shaped seal bearing the inscription "Seal of a General of the Imperial Guards (Han Dynasty private armed forces, household guards)" sold for 24 million yen at auction in Tokyo Chuo in 2021.
However, one point is that this official position was a private one, not officially appointed by the government, and the seal was a private seal, which is why the rank was so low.
Even during the Han Dynasty, to keep military orders and documents confidential, the clay seals used to seal envelopes with official seals cost several million each.
The "Imperial Censor" was unearthed in Xiangjia Lane, Xi'an. It was also auctioned by Xiling Seal Society in 2019 and sold for 7.82 million yuan.
"Qi Tieguan Seal" sold for 4.36 million at China Guardian auction in 2022.
"Langya Weicheng" was auctioned by Poly Auction in 2023 for 12 million.
It looks roughly like this:
So, regardless of whether this gold seal exceeded the prescribed limits, any genuine Han Dynasty seal would start at 100 million yuan.
Eight thousand? Even if you took out the seal and made a rubbing on the spot, it probably wouldn't be enough...
Lin Sicheng nodded: "Okay, I'll write it down!"
Thinking he had outsmarted Lu Zhen, he turned his back and winked at Lu Meng.
Lu Meng glared at him, took Ye Anning's hand, and propped her chin up with her hand: "Boyfriend?"
Ye Anning said expressionlessly, "My uncle's student!"
impossible.
Throughout her four years of university, Ye Anning had never been seen getting so close to any boy.
Lu Meng looked him over a few more times: "He looks much younger than us. Is he in college? Is he working part-time during the holidays?"
What kind of work is this, just carrying bricks?
Afraid of laughing out loud, Ye Anning kept a straight face: "More or less!"
When Lin Sicheng was in Shanxi, he not only received a salary, but it was quite high.
After returning, he conducted research, with the ultimate goal of recreating the process and selling the patent. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Lin Sicheng was working hard to support himself while studying.
Lu Meng believed it to be true, and a strange look flashed in her eyes: She's so beautiful and has such a good figure, why does she have to find a poor college student?
But then she thought back to her university days and felt relieved: if Ye Anning had wanted to do something wrong, she would have done it long ago.
So, they're already so pitiful, we can't let Lu Zhen take advantage of them any further...
In a flash, the group walked and looked around. Whenever they saw something reasonably priced and of decent quality, Lu Zhen would mutter to himself:
"A late Ming dynasty nanmu wood box with two dragons playing with a pearl? To dare to carve dragon patterns, it must be at least of the rank of a prince. Huh, only eight thousand?"
"A hexagonal brush holder made of rosewood from the Qing Dynasty... The wood is so hard, the color is so deep, and the patina is so glossy, it's undoubtedly genuine... Ten thousand yuan is not expensive!"
"A Song Dynasty Huang Zhong Weng pendant... Song Dynasty jade, estimated at only nine thousand?"
"A paperweight inscribed with poems on rosewood, attributed to Zhang Shuwei of the Qing Dynasty. Rosewood again? This isn't expensive, just over ten thousand..."
Lu Zhen paused halfway through his sentence, his brows furrowing slightly as if he were deep in thought.
Lin Sicheng immediately recognized that the name Zhang Shumo sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
It's no wonder he couldn't remember. This person's original name was Zhang Rulin, later changed to Zhang Tingji, and his courtesy names were Shumo, Shuozhou, Weiting, Zuotian, Zhutian, Lantingtingzhang, Meishou Laoren, and Haiyue Temple disciple. He was from Xinhuang, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and so on.
Shumo was just one of his many names.
He was the top scholar in the provincial examination in the third year of the Jiaqing reign, but failed the Ministry of Rites examination repeatedly and eventually retired to his hometown. His family was extremely wealthy in Jiaxing and a well-known antique dealer in the Jiangnan region. Zhang Yanji was skilled in poetry and prose, and was an expert in epigraphy and textual research. He had a large collection of bronze vessels, inscriptions, books, and paintings.
During the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, a saying circulated in Zhejiang: "In the past there was Xiang Yuanbian, and now there is Zhang Yanji."
Now look at this paperweight: its shape is elegant, its carving is exquisite, and it is very well made.
Looking at the inscription again: "I fear I have troubled the emperor with my efforts... I am filled with gratitude for the boundless grace of the emperor and feel ashamed and apprehensive..." It is a copy of the letter "Locust Catching Post" written by Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty to the governor of Chuzhou.
The handwriting is not bad either. Looking at the estimated price, it's 15,000.
"Its real value is definitely higher than this," Lin Sicheng nodded, "Cousin Ye, we can bid on this!"
Seeing Ye Anning take out a small notebook and write it down, Lu Zhen's eyes lit up: You want to bid, right? I'll raise the price for you.
Continuing forward, Lu Zhen pointed to two more seals: "A Qing Dynasty stone carving of a deer and pine tree, very well carved... wait, another Han Dynasty seal?"
Lin Sicheng also took a look.
The seal of Songlu is indeed quite well carved, with inscriptions on both sides: "Hair and eyebrows are all green, carved by Shichi in the middle of spring of the year Xinwei." The seal text reads: "Hair and eyebrows are all green."
I don't have much of an impression of him. He probably wasn't a famous artist, and he couldn't have lived during the Qing Dynasty; at most, he was from the late Republic of China period.
Furthermore, Shoushan stone, estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, is neither high nor low.
Looking at the Han Dynasty seal, it is a bronze tortoise-shaped seal with the inscription: "Tiger Steps Sima".
There was no such official position in the Han Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei established the position of "Tiger Step Commandant Sima". When it was reduced to Tiger Step Sima, it was already the end of the Three Kingdoms period and the beginning of the Western Jin Dynasty after Sima Zhao's death.
That's one point; secondly, the Forbidden City has an identical one.
Let's look at the estimated value: 40,000?
Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: If it's genuine, you can't buy it even if you add three zeros to the end.
But I must say, the imitation is quite realistic: the specifications are right, the size is right, including the shell patterns and the fleshy folds between the neck and legs, almost all of them are one-to-one.
Nine times out of ten, it was made from a wax rubbing taken from the Palace Museum and then cast by machine.
He glanced at it twice, then continued forward, with Ye Anning following closely behind.
But the two siblings did not follow, and instead stayed where they were.
Ye Anning asked suspiciously, "What's going on between them?"
"A Han Dynasty seal".
Ye Anning was startled: "Huh?"
She was so focused on gritting her teeth and snarling: Lu Zhen really doesn't know the meaning of death, daring to trick Lin Sicheng?
She knew she couldn't get away with it, so Lin Sicheng definitely wouldn't be angry. But the more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she was busy figuring out how to get back at him, so she didn't pay any attention to the Han seal at all.
"What mark?"
Lin Sicheng succinctly stated: "A tortoise-shaped bronze knob, inscribed with 'Tiger-Step Sima'!"
Ye Anning's eyes lit up: a bronze seal with a tortoise-shaped knob and the inscription "Tiger Step Sima"... isn't there one in the Forbidden City?
If this is real, she'd dare to eat it.
Turning around, Lu Zhen looked like she was making a phone call.
He must be asking someone for advice.
Ye Anning had an idea: "How much is the seal worth?"
"Forty thousand to sixty thousand!"
Is it true or not?
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "That's pretty real!"
"Ha ha……"
Ye Anning chuckled: Even Lin Sicheng said it was quite realistic, so the simulation level is at least 80% or 90%.
She's figured out a way to get her revenge.
Just as she was pondering this, Lin Sicheng suddenly stopped, and Ye Anning almost bumped into him.
Upon closer inspection, Lin Sicheng noticed several seals in the cabinet.
One is a white jade beast knob, and the other is a Shoushan stone horse knob. Neither is very large, about three centimeters high and two centimeters wide.
Let's look at the seal again: a set of two pieces, a Qing Dynasty white jade beast-shaped seal and a Shoushan stone horse-shaped seal.
Seal inscription: Yidianzhai, Taiping Renrui.
RMB: 10,000-20,000.
Ye Anning tried to recall, but felt she didn't remember much.
There is another set next to it, about the same size as the previous set, but it is square: two jade seals, one agate, and one Shoushan stone.
Let's look at the tags again:
A set of four Qing Dynasty leisure seals
Inscription: Take the cloud, use it and it will be effective.
RMB: No reserve price.
Ye Anning tried hard to recall: "Taking clouds, using them, I don't remember anything?"
Lin Sicheng nodded: "I don't remember either."
Ye Anning lowered her head again: "The materials are all just average, and the carving seems to be average as well. Only the agate ones are slightly better... Hmm, what is this? It looks quite cartoonish, like a pair of mandarin ducks... This is the first time I've seen a button like this?"
Lin Sicheng nodded again: "It is indeed quite rare!"
Ye Anning asked with a hint of suspicion, "Then why are you looking at it so seriously?"
Lin Sicheng didn't say anything, he just smiled.
The material is indeed mediocre: the first piece is a speckled black jade from Hetian, which is much cheaper than white jade or green jade. Furthermore, the speckles are scattered and vary in intensity; these are typically sold by weight.
The second type is Sichuan white jade, which has become extremely soil-stained, turning the jade a reddish-brown color.
The fourth stone directly became Shoushan stone.
Only the one with the red agate in the middle is better.
The material is Southern Red Agate, which would be of average value in modern times. However, in ancient times, this type of agate, with a pure color at the top and white at the bottom, had a specific name: "Charming Color Banded Agate".
From the Tang to the Qing dynasties, it was regarded as the finest jade, and once discovered, it was always presented as tribute, rarely circulating among the common people.
For example, this one:
Having discussed the material, let's talk about the craftsmanship: the craftsmanship of the other three pieces is only average, but this one: the bird feathers are in shallow relief, and the side decorations are changed to low relief. The carving is continuous and smooth, the raised curved surface is rounded, the lines are distinct, and the polishing is soft and natural.
To summarize: the carving is exquisite, thin, flat, and straight... with just a few strokes, it is masterful and lifelike.
To put it simply, this kind of carving technique has reached the point of returning to simplicity and achieving great skill without artifice. At first glance, it may seem ordinary, but in reality, it is extremely difficult to achieve.
Therefore, the more Lin Sicheng looked at it, the more he felt that it was a piece made by the Qianlong Emperor from the jade workshop of the Imperial Household Department during the Qianlong period.
Looking at the bird from another angle, if this seal did indeed come from the Imperial Household Department, based on the material of the seal being red at the top, pink in the middle, and white at the bottom, we can infer that the top represents a vermilion bird, the middle a red fire, and the bottom a white cloud.
Therefore, it is very likely not a duck, but a Vermilion Bird.
But the problem is, the instructions printed on the stands don't seem quite right.
Because any seal sent to the Imperial Household Department's jade workshop for carving would inevitably have its raw materials and design drawings presented to the emperor for his review. The so-called "taking clouds" itself has no origin; taking "stopping clouds" or "resting clouds" would be more meaningful.
"When you need me, I will act; when you don't need me, I will stay put." This phrase comes from the Analects of Confucius, Book 1, Chapter 12. The full text is "When you need me, I will act; when you don't need me, I will stay put."
Given the nature of the Qing emperors, it was impossible for them to quote such a negative ancient proverb for an inscription, as the criticism would be too severe, and it was also impossible for them to bestow it upon their ministers.
If it was a seal carved by a scholar who had been demoted, then there is a good chance of that.
For a moment, Lin Sicheng was unsure how to proceed. As he pondered the situation, he heard footsteps behind him.
The two siblings came side by side, and at first glance, they looked the same as before. But both Lin Sicheng and Ye Anning could see the barely concealed excitement in Lu Zhen's eyes.
Wait... does this guy really think that bronze seal with a tortoise-shaped knob is a Han Dynasty seal?
Subconsciously, Lin Sicheng turned around and looked at Ye Anning.
Ye Anning gave him a subtle glare, as if to say, "Mind your own business."
It's over.
Even if it's just a small amount, you'll still be scammed out of tens of thousands by Cousin Ye; it could easily be hundreds of thousands.
Just then, Lu Zhen came closer.
"What are you looking at, Qing Dynasty seals? Tsk, several of them are quite nice?"
After taking a closer look, Lu Zhen said with a hint of sarcasm, "No reserve price, we're sure to snag a bargain!"
Lin Sicheng nodded: "I think so too!"
Lu Zhen paused for a moment, then his eyes turned strange again: The material is so-so, the carving is even more so, and the inscription has no origin. What kind of bargain can you find?
But he needed to verify the origin of the tortoise-shaped Han Dynasty seal, and didn't have time to trick Ye Anning and Lin Sicheng for the time being. He just smiled and replied, "Yes, it's definitely a bargain!"
Before he could finish speaking, he hurriedly walked out, saying, "Lu Meng, let's go!"
"Go drive the car first!"
After replying and watching him leave the exhibition hall, Lu Meng grabbed Ye Anning's hand: "Anning, my brother isn't very shrewd, don't fall for it!"
Ye Anning paused for a moment, then simply nodded.
Lu Meng patted Ye Anning's hand again and then left the exhibition hall.
Lin Sicheng watched her retreating figure: "Your classmate is quite nice to you!"
"It's alright!" Ye Anning nodded. "But she's her, and her brother is her brother!"
Looks like I'm definitely going to get scammed?
So what if they rip me off? People who run pawnshops don't care about tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan.
Thinking it over, Lin Sicheng turned his head and pondered the seal. After looking at it for a while, he waved his hand again: "Hello manager, may I have a look at it?"
"certainly!"
After I replied, the staff brought me a key and unlocked the card lock.
Then, a set of square seals were neatly arranged in front of Lin Sicheng.
With the troublemaker gone, Lin Sicheng didn't bother with pretense and simply picked up the Vermilion Bird Seal.
As soon as he touched it, he was struck by its exquisite texture and feel, a typical example of Suzhou craftsmanship from the Qing Dynasty imperial court.
Looking at the inscription again, he was taken aback: this was not "taking clouds" at all, but clearly "cluster of clouds".
Not to mention him, even a layman who knows nothing about seal script or epigraphy could recognize it.
Logically speaking, Xiling Seal Society, a century-old brand that started with seal carving, should not make such a basic mistake.
Just as he was wondering, Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched twice.
Murakumo... Murakumo...
Good heavens! This is Emperor Qianlong's collector's seal, which he used specifically on paintings and calligraphy...
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