Chapter 63 Is your grandpa also a liar?
Of these three items, the cheapest should be Li Dongyang's calligraphy copybook.
Even at a lower price, he was a historically renowned calligrapher and, moreover, a prime minister of a dynasty. His work would easily cost over a million.
Next is Lu Zigang's jade cup.
I auctioned one in 2013 for about five million including commission. Although the antique market is relatively sluggish right now, it would still fetch at least two million.
The most valuable item is that Chengni inkstone:
The inkstone is shaped like a fish, with lotus leaves lining its back. The black and red colors complement each other, and the lotus and fish shine together, creating a bright and beautiful effect. The richness and composure are perfectly balanced.
Turn the inkstone over and look at it again; there is a line of regular script characters: "A plan for future generations, a lesson to be learned and punished!"
Wow, that's impressive! Not only is it a palace inkstone, but it's a gift from the Emperor. Let's estimate: three million...
But even after emptying all his pockets, he only had around a million. Not being able to afford it was secondary; the real issue was that items worth millions were hard to sell easily.
So, while the product is good, it's unnecessary...
Subconsciously, Lin Sicheng glanced at Wang Qizhi.
Professor Wang could buy one, but the question is, will the other party sell it to him?
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and said, "Old man, can we discuss something?"
The old lady smiled and said, "Kid, you're so clever!"
He pointed to Wang Qizhi: "This is my teacher, a disciple of Gu Tongzhang!"
The old lady glanced at Wang Qizhi's hands and pursed her lips: "How many strokes of paste did you make?"
It means that even after hitting eight hundred poles, Wang Qizhi is not even considered a disciple or grandson of Gu Tongzhang, so buying things is out of the question.
Lin Sicheng opened his mouth, then simply closed it.
The old lady smiled again and tapped her cane on the ground: "Those three can't afford the wood, but you can definitely afford this one!"
Immediately, Zhao Xiuneng moved the tray over, hooked his waist, and pulled out a box from under the coffee table.
Open the box lid, remove the sponge, and then peel off three layers of soft cloth, and the box is split in two.
On one side were broken porcelain pieces, and on the other side were also broken porcelain pieces.
But it's half yellow and half blue with yellow in it.
The pure yellow half is exactly the same as the bowl that Wang Qizhi just bought, delicate as a sunflower, and bright yellow as chicken fat, undoubtedly a delicate yellow glaze from the Hongzhi period.
Although there are no dragon patterns, judging by appearance, the original piece is much larger than the bowl. Even if it is not a jar, it is at least a zun (a type of ancient Chinese vessel).
Looking at the other half, it is a typical Hongzhi yellow-based blue-and-white porcelain: the glaze is soft, the glaze is thick, and the blue is grayish, presenting a unique jade-like texture.
Looking at the decoration: there is a dragon among the flowers, with delicate lines, free and unrestrained brushstrokes, and a touch of casualness, just like the bowl on the table.
After flipping through it, Lin Sicheng took out the base, and sure enough: Made in the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty.
A Hongzhi period yellow-glazed pipa-shaped vase; a Hongzhi period yellow-ground blue-and-white dragon-patterned large jar.
The former is alright, especially the latter: the technique originated from Chenghua doucai, hence the name Hongzhi doucai. Just based on the base and the dragon, this half-box of porcelain shards is worth 200,000 yuan.
If it can be pieced together, it would be worth no less than Professor Wang's bowl, and even a smaller piece would be worth millions.
Therefore, even if the porcelain shards in this box are not complete, I still have to buy it.
After flipping through it briefly and finding no genuine products mixed with fakes, Lin Sicheng reached out his hand, ready to ask the price.
He had already rolled up his sleeves when he suddenly paused.
Hongzhi period yellow-glazed pipa-shaped vase, Hongzhi period dragon-patterned jar, Hongzhi period yellow-glazed bowl... Where did so many Hongzhi imperial artifacts come from?
The key point is that the complete absence of any stains indicates that none of these three items have ever been buried.
But that's not the point. The point is the quality... If I'm not mistaken, this inkstone is from the same era as the pipa-shaped vase, the dragon-patterned jar, and the bowl.
To be more precise: They've always been together...
Then look at that inkstone: it too has never been buried.
Let's look at that calligraphy copybook again: Li Dongyang's "Mr. Muzhai is about to embark on a boat and sent me a poem, so I followed his rhyme!"
Who is Li Dongyang?
During the Hongzhi era, he served as Minister, Grand Secretary, and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion.
Mr. Muzhai was Zhuang Chang, who served as a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing before the Hongzhi era. He was a fellow townsman of Li Dongyang and a close friend of him.
In the early years of the Hongzhi reign, Zhuang Chang's daughter married the son of Li Jun, who was then serving as the Shanxi Provincial Councilor (a third-rank official).
Li Jun was from Qishan, and his tomb is located at Fengminggang, less than ten kilometers from here. There is also a shrine on the mountain: the Shrine of the Grand Secretary.
The problem is, when I traveled back in time, Li Jun's grave was still intact?
Besides, these items don't look like they've ever been buried.
Lin Sicheng blinked: "Old man, your surname is Li?"
"Russia doesn't belong to the Li family!"
The old lady shook her head. "Don't worry, child. These things were all exchanged from the Li family by Eunuch E. before he went back to his hometown. He worked as a handyman in the palace..."
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: This old lady's craftsmanship is still passed down from her ancestors.
These three items have an impeccable provenance, their lineage crystal clear. But forget about it, I simply can't afford them.
So I can only buy ceramic shards.
He sighed and was about to ask the price when the old lady waved her hand: "Don't rush, child, let me show you something else!"
As she spoke, the old lady reached under the stool and pulled out a small box about the size of her palm, which she then opened with trembling hands.
The moment the box lid was lifted, Lin Sicheng's eyes narrowed sharply: another box of broken porcelain?
The topmost image is particularly eye-catching: a rooster stands tall, pawing the ground, and crows loudly. Behind it, a tender yellow chick flaps its wings.
What did I just say?
Hongzhi Doucai originated from Chenghua Doucai. In the blink of an eye, the old lady took out a box.
Upon closer inspection: the glaze is lustrous, white with a hint of blue and gray. However, the color is not dark; instead, it has a jade-like quality.
Looking at it again under the light: the glaze is thick and even, with a soft and subtle luster. From another angle: the pale yellow has a slight green tint, the apricot yellow has a touch of crimson, and the beeswax is a transparent yellow.
The porcelain body is also extremely thin; through the porcelain shards, you can even see the fleshy red color of the fingers on the back.
The key is this chicken, and the base at the bottom of the box... It's so damn recognizable: the best of Ming Dynasty porcelain, the Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup.
It's no exaggeration to say that this was the first time Lin Sicheng had ever seen a real thing in his two lifetimes... even though it was a broken one.
Lin Sicheng wasn't entirely sure if there were only seven in the world, but at least seven years later, the 280 million yuan that Liu Yiqian spent at the Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong was genuine.
Judging from the size of the box, the porcelain shards inside are enough for at least two cups...
Lin Sicheng looked at it for a long time, then slowly exhaled and gently put it back down.
The old lady closed the box, smiling broadly, and said, "Child, mend this for me, and I'll give you the other box."
After a slight pause, she pointed to the tray again: "Choose one of those three!"
Wang Qizhi's eyes bulged suddenly, and his eyelids twitched wildly.
Even Ren Linsicheng, who had lived two lives, couldn't help but gasp: "You knew I couldn't afford it, yet you brazenly took it out."
For something worth hundreds of millions, a repair cost of one percent isn't really that high. So, she wasn't selling anything; she was luring people in!
Should we supplement or not?
To be honest, how many lifetimes would it take to encounter something like this? Even if he had to pay me, Lin Sicheng would still do it.
But there's one thing that doesn't make logical sense!
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "Why not send the old man to the capital?"
For example, the Forbidden City.
"It's easy to deliver it to the capital, but what if it ends up in the public domain?"
Haha... Did you steal it back then?
It's been over a hundred years, so it's unlikely, but you never know...
"Grandpa, the problem is that I'm too young and I'm afraid I'll break it for you."
"Don't worry, kid, my hands may shake a lot, but my eyesight is still fine!"
Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "How about I have my grandfather fix it for you? His name is Lin Changqing, a professor of ceramics at Xida University, and he studied under Li Guangde (who came from the Imperial Workshop and was a master of porcelain restoration in the late Qing Dynasty)..."
“The child is in Hushe again, and Li Guangde has never been to Xijing.”
The old lady revealed her bare gums, looked at his fingers, and smiled happily, "Your grandfather knows how to mix lacquer?"
Lin Sicheng froze, staring intently at the nail of his right thumb: it was just a tiny bit, about the size of a millet grain, with a bluish tinge.
This was the sample of the two fish he had ordered that day. He also casually mixed some traditional porcelain glue specifically for mending blue and white porcelain. Only then did he instruct Li Zhen and Feng Lin to glue the sample to the bottom of the basin after it had cooled down.
But only this little bit was stuck on?
No wonder the old lady asked at the door: "Is the child pouring paste?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
