Chapter 273 Zheng Banqiao's Genuine Work?
The Liangma River shimmered, and a touch of early autumn coolness lingered in the air.
The phone buzzed, and Lin Sicheng answered it without hesitation:
"Director Wu, the meeting approved it? Thank you, Director Wu..."
"Oh, you want to visit? Don't worry, sir, we'll definitely make sure you're well taken care of..."
"There's a coordination meeting the day after tomorrow? Okay, I'll attend on time... Goodbye, Director Wu..."
After exchanging only a few words, and having hung up the phone, Wang Qizhi turned around and asked, "Director Wu Hui?"
"Yes, they said the meeting was held yesterday afternoon. The meeting decided that the Cultural Relics Bureau would take the lead, coordinating with local archaeological institutions for joint excavation, and simultaneously organizing experts to provide on-site guidance. However, the original exploration unit will still be the core..."
The original exploration unit, isn't that the archaeological team that Lin Sicheng temporarily organized before?
Wang Qizhi nodded: So many people have been working on this for so long, isn't it all for this?
Nothing unexpected happened.
"What about the research?"
"We haven't made any plans yet. We said we'll wait until we've visited the research center and laboratories at the Academy of Arts & Design and the Palace Museum's Institute of Ceramics before we make any decisions."
Wang Qizhi didn't care: He wasn't afraid of them visiting; he was afraid they wouldn't come at all.
After visiting the research center and laboratories, while I can't say I'll convince every expert, at least no one will question their research capabilities anymore.
In this way, Lin Sicheng's initial expectations have been met.
Wang Qizhi breathed a sigh of relief: "Should we give them advance notice so they can prepare in advance?"
Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, then shook his head.
This is a formal academic visit, and the cultural relics bureau will definitely send a letter to the university. Whether it's a research center or a laboratory, regardless of whether there's a visit or not, the work still needs to be done every day; there's not much to prepare.
For people like Professor Huang, Tian Suo, and Team Leader Gao, it doesn't matter whether we notify them or not. However, there's a possibility that word might leak out and reach Shanxi. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it's better not to notify them at all.
The teacher and student whispered a few words to each other, and then the three cars were parked in the parking lot. Four large characters on the rooftop came into view: Kunlun Hotel.
The doorman opened the car door, and the group entered the lobby.
Lin Sicheng glanced at the sign.
Building Dreams Together, Reaching the World: Xiling Seal Society 2008 Beijing Special Art Auction.
"A special auction?" Lin Sicheng looked up. "Cousin Ye, didn't you say this was the Xiling Spring Auction?"
Ye Anning's eyes darted away for a moment: "I...I remembered wrong!"
Lin Sicheng scoffed: "You're afraid that if you tell me, I won't come."
Because, relatively speaking, the number of items in a dedicated auction is much smaller and the quality is much lower than in the spring and autumn auctions. It's definitely not worth making a special trip to Beijing.
But if I happen to be passing by, I'll definitely come and take a look. Like this time: I just happened to be passing by, and I had enough time.
A hostess led the way, and the group went up to the second floor.
Two south and two north, four exhibition halls, noisy and crowded.
Today is the last day of the preview period, and there are an unusually large number of people. Wang Qizhi looked around and asked, "Calligraphy and paintings, ancient books, scholar's objects and seal carvings, Western paintings by famous artists, contemporary art and sculptures... Which room should I go to?"
"Let's look at the calligraphy and paintings first!" Zhao Xiuneng recalled, "I looked at the catalog yesterday, and there are quite a few works by famous artists in this special auction!"
"Yes, yes!" Ye Anning nodded vigorously, "Let's look at the calligraphy and paintings!"
Lin Sicheng was indifferent, but Wang Qizhi glared at her.
Why did she insist on dragging Lin Sicheng to this auction? Because during the Poly Auction spring sale, she volunteered to go to Shanxi to collect items. However, she was so busy following Lin Sicheng around that she didn't complete her task.
If the autumn auction goes poorly again, will she still be able to keep her job as an assistant consultant?
Since she happened to be in Beijing on her way, she thought she could ask Lin Sicheng to come and help her take a look, to see if she could find a good opportunity: for example, if something failed to sell at auction in Xiling but was of good quality, Ye Anning could take the chance to get it to Poly Auction in the autumn.
Believe it or not, there are quite a few like that; they're basically available at every auction.
After checking their guest passes, the group entered the hall.
The place is quite large, but there are even more things: there is a square cabinet in the middle, and standing cabinets on both sides. Even the partition wall in the middle is covered with calligraphy and paintings.
Calligraphy copybooks, couplets, fan paintings, poems, ancient paintings, letters, pages from ancient books, and even the first drafts of calligraphy and paintings.
There were quite a few people, bustling and noisy.
As soon as they entered, Ye Anning pulled Lin Sicheng's sleeve and led him to the display case in the very center.
But there were too many people, so I couldn't get in.
Lin Sicheng craned his neck, but the display case was so tightly surrounded that he couldn't even catch a glimpse of it.
"What is that?!"
Ye Anning said mysteriously, "I won't tell you yet, I'll scare you later!"
"You painted this?"
"What?"
Ye Anning pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at him.
Just then, someone left, and Ye Anning pulled on his sleeve and squeezed in.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it, looking puzzled.
Amazing! It's an imperial calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong?
There are cards below:
Hongli (1711-1799) wrote a seven-character couplet in running script.
Silk couplets.
Painted in 1748.
Text: The mist rises and the air is thick with the distant forest; the waves surge and fall, rushing deep into the vast sea.
Inscription: Written by the Emperor Qianlong in the first month of the Qinghe period of the Wuchen year of his reign.
Seal: Qianlong (red)
Looking at the estimated price, it's RMB 380,000-450,000.
Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: If it's an authentic work, would 300,000 yuan be enough to buy just one character?
Ye Anning asked expectantly, "How is it?"
Lin Sicheng examined it for a while: "You want to take a picture?"
"I'm not a collector," Ye Anning said in a low voice. "I'm letting you find a bargain!"
Lin Sicheng smiled.
At first glance: Good heavens, a Qianlong imperial treasure? But then you see the price and you'll gasp: Only three or four hundred thousand?
Naturally, the idea of finding a bargain will pop into your head.
But don't be surprised, this happens every year. Major auction houses both domestically and internationally offer over a thousand pieces of calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong each year. Sometimes, they're estimated to be worth over ten thousand yuan.
The reason is that there are too many forgeries.
According to statistics from the Palace Museum, there are over 40,000 verifiable authentic paintings and calligraphic works left behind by Emperor Qianlong during his lifetime. The number of imitations from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period is more than ten times that.
Leaving aside forgeries, of the more than 40,000 genuine works, over 70 percent were written by court officials of the Hanlin Academy.
Four hundred thousand plus thirty thousand, how much is that?
The key point is that Qianlong's calligraphy and painting skills were only average. His characters were in a formulaic running script, and his paintings were flat and overly crafted.
To put it bluntly: lacking any personal style, it's extremely easy to imitate the calligraphy of this poet. However, because it was made on tribute paper and ink, and was created during the Qianlong era, the difficulty of modern authentication has skyrocketed.
Therefore, even if the paper, ink, and seal are matched, unless they are recorded in the Shiqu Baoji, or there is evidence that they are major historical subjects personally written by Emperor Qianlong, or they bear the top-level collection seals of later famous collectors, all the others are classified as works by a ghostwriter.
These three types account for less than five-thousandths of all of Qianlong's works, and ninety percent of these are treasured by major museums and institutions. Fewer than a thousand pieces are in private hands.
The one in front of us is one of the three types, which is why it's priced at three or four hundred thousand.
In reality, most experts are aware of this situation. Sometimes, if they see a piece of good quality, they might bid on one or two. However, their bids are generally low, rarely exceeding the highest estimate.
The real danger is encountering an amateur or a semi-expert who thinks they've snagged a bargain. In such cases, the auctioneer would be doing a disservice if they didn't hire a shill to drive up the price.
While pondering this, Lin Sicheng glanced at it again and said, "It's okay to bid, but don't exceed 600,000!"
Ye Anning was stunned: "Huh?"
Does this mean... this was ghostwritten?
She lowered her head and looked at it carefully for a long time.
Lin Sicheng reminded him again: "Qian Weicheng!"
Ye Anning suddenly realized: No wonder I couldn't see it?
Qian Weicheng was the top scholar in the imperial examination in the tenth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. He was also a calligrapher and served as the emperor's scribe for half his life.
If we were to rank the court officials who wrote poems for Emperor Qianlong, his calligraphy teacher Dong Bangda (Minister of Works during Qianlong's reign) would rank first, and Qian Weicheng would rank second.
Therefore, he was greatly favored by Emperor Qianlong and successively served as Vice Minister of the Ministries of Rites, Works, and Justice, and Education Commissioner of Zhejiang Province. After his death, Emperor Qianlong posthumously granted him the title of Minister and the posthumous name Wenmin.
At the same time, Qian Weicheng was also a calligrapher and painter during the mid-Qing Dynasty. In the collection catalog of Emperor Qianlong, "Shiqu Baoji", more than 160 of Qian Weicheng's works were included, which shows the extent to which Emperor Qianlong appreciated Qian Weicheng's works.
Based on this, coupled with his status as a "top scholar" and "high-ranking official," as well as the two genuine seals of Emperor Qianlong, Lin Sicheng valued this couplet at 600,000, which is not considered high.
After glancing at it a few more times, Ye Anning took out a pen and wrote it down in her notebook.
She quickly memorized it, then pointed to the side and asked, "Lin Sicheng, would you like to see this one?"
Lin Sicheng glanced at it, unsure of what to say: "Kangxi Imperial Treasure?"
Compared to the Qianlong Emperor, fewer works by the Kangxi Emperor have survived: aside from later forgeries, there are over 20,000 works bearing genuine seals.
Of these 20,000-plus pieces, most are calligraphy works, and over 85% were written by court officials on behalf of the emperor, more than double the number of calligraphy works written by court officials on behalf of the emperor. Five to six hundred of these works are auctioned every year.
The vast majority of these works were valued and sold for less than a million. The reason is simple: there were too many forgeries, and Kangxi's handwriting imitated Dong Qichang's style, which is dignified and steady, but it is too rigid and lacks distinctive features. This made it easier for court officials to imitate, making it extremely difficult for later generations to authenticate.
Therefore, just like Emperor Qianlong, any work not recorded in authoritative texts, unrelated to historical events, or of ordinary mounting quality was considered to have been written by a ghostwriter.
Look at this next piece: a pair of silks, made of red silk with gold-painted dragon and cloud patterns, specially made for the emperor to use for ink painting during the Qing Dynasty.
Ink Dui: Imperial Tribute Ink.
The seals are also correct: Yuanjianzhai (white text), Kangxi Chenhan (red text), and Chiji Qingyan (red text), all of which are Kangxi's calligraphy and painting seals.
Even the ink paste was made of cinnabar, mugwort floss, and pearl powder, exclusively for imperial use.
But the handwriting is incorrect. At least Lin Sicheng could tell that this was definitely done by someone else.
The estimated value is between 500,000 and 800,000.
Lin Sicheng glanced at it again: "Written by Shen Quan, it can be auctioned for less than a million!"
Ye Anning froze, then suddenly bent down: Another ghostwriter?
Qian Weicheng was the top scholar in the imperial examination, while Shen Quan was the third-highest. Although Shen Quan did not achieve the same high official rank as Qian Weicheng, his works are of equal or greater artistic value and historical influence.
He was upright and outspoken, dared to speak frankly, was honest and incorruptible as an official, and was also skilled in calligraphy, especially fond of the Dong style, so he was highly appreciated by Emperor Kangxi.
Historical records state that during an audience with the Emperor, Li Guangdi said: "When I first began learning calligraphy, Quan (Shen Quan), the father of Zongjing (Shen Zongjing, then serving as the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices), served as my attendant and frequently pointed out my strengths and weaknesses. Even now, whenever I write calligraphy, I cannot help but think of Quan's diligence."
"For all imperial inscriptions, palace screens, and imperial edicts, I would always order the Duke (Shen Quan) to write them. Sometimes he would write large characters himself and inscribe them on the back..."
That's one point. Secondly, whether it's the silk, the printing, or the mounting, this piece is better than the one by Emperor Qianlong. The price is double, but it's not very high.
Ye Anning wrote it down in her notebook.
The group continued reading, but the more they read, the stranger Lin Sicheng's expression became.
Liu Yong's running script seven-character couplet:
Imperial gifts of silver-painted wax paper, imperial gifts of Huizhou ink, and imperial gifts of gold ink (seal paste).
Moreover, it's incredibly well-preserved, looking brand new.
But there's no doubt: it was imitated by later generations.
It was likely created during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, so the estimated price is not high: 100,000-120,000.
There is also a seven-character couplet in running script by Zuo Zongtang, which is estimated to be slightly more expensive at 110,000.
There is also a seven-character couplet in running script by Ji Xiaolan, with an estimated price of 110,000, the same as the previous one.
Then came another eight-character couplet in regular script by Li Hongzhang, slightly less expensive: estimated at 80,000.
There's also a calligraphy scroll with the character "寿" (longevity) by Zeng Guofan, estimated at only 30,000.
Honestly, if it were an authentic work, whether it was by Zuo Taibao, Li Zhongtang, Governor Zeng, or even Scholar Ji, it would be worth three or four times more.
So, just take a look.
Further down are a seven-character poem in cursive script by Prince Xian (Aisin Gioro Fushou, grandson of Huang Taiji and son of Haoge, the first Prince Xian of the Qing Dynasty), a seven-character poem in running script by Prince Cheng (Aisin Gioro Yongxing, the eleventh son of Emperor Qianlong), and "Ode to Longevity" presented by Prince Heng Yinqi (the fifth son of Emperor Kangxi) on Emperor Kangxi's 55th birthday.
There are many works like these by members of the royal family, and their estimated prices are not high: ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Many famous artists also contributed: Yun Shouping's "Wealth and Prosperity in the Hall" (peony), one of the Six Masters of the Early Qing Dynasty (including the Four Wangs of the Qing Dynasty) and a famous flower-and-bird painter of the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties; Weng Tonghe's "Osmanthus in Three Autumns"; Zhao Zhiqian's (a calligrapher of the late Qing Dynasty, who was as famous as Wu Changshuo and Ren Bonian) eight-character couplet in Wei style; and Huang Yi's (a famous painter and seal engraver of the mid-Qing Dynasty) landscape album.
These items are estimated to be slightly more expensive, generally between 300,000 and 600,000. The key point is that they are all genuine works.
Strictly speaking, the antique market only began its upward trend in 2008, and the works of these individuals will all see varying degrees of appreciation in the future.
Like Yun Shouping's peony painting, the composition is neat, the colors are vibrant, and the brushwork is subtle yet bright and simple. It is not only his most skilled flower-and-bird painting, but also a mature work from his later years.
Judging from the price, it's estimated to be only 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. It will double in value in two years at most. If it's left for a few more years, by around 2013, it will be worth at least two or three million yuan.
In today's market, it would only be worth three or four hundred thousand yuan. If you were to buy it, it wouldn't be considered a bargain; it would be more of an investment.
But a seven- or eight-fold increase in five years is already quite substantial. While it may not be as lucrative as research projects or antique porcelain restoration, it's still incredibly profitable compared to investing in real estate or the energy sector…
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng looked at it again, and only after confirming that it was correct did he straighten up: "Teacher, Senior Brother Zhao, this peony painting is quite nice. Should we write it down and try to take a picture of it later?"
Wang Qizhi didn't know much about painting, so he asked directly, "How much can I earn?"
Lin Sicheng stated directly: "It should double in about two to three years!"
"Earn 300,000 in three years?" Wang Qizhi curled his lip. "That's less than the bonuses the school gives to the lab?"
Lin Sicheng was speechless for a moment.
Because of the copper origin and BTA projects, the school awarded a total of 500,000 yuan. Wang Qizhi decided to keep 100,000 yuan as a reserve fund, give 100,000 yuan to Zhu Kaiping and the team members, and give the remaining 300,000 yuan to Lin Sicheng.
The problem is that schools can't possibly give out so many bonuses every year.
Of course, if we look at it from another angle: Wang Qizhi does look down on someone who only earns 100,000 yuan a year.
Looking at Zhao Xiuneng again, he glanced left and right, seemingly unimpressed, apparently not interested either.
Lin Sicheng pointed at Zhao Da: "Boheng, remember this: if you don't have money, borrow it from me!"
"Yes, Master!" Zhao Da obediently wrote it down in his notebook.
Further on, I saw a painting titled "Hibiscus and Mandarin Ducks" by Jiang Tingxi (a famous painter of the Qing Dynasty, an important minister during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng, known as Zuo Yu (Zhang Yanyu) and You Xi). It was estimated to be worth only 60,000 to 80,000 yuan.
In five years at most, this painting will be worth at least twenty times more.
Lin Sicheng pointed and said, "Zhong An, remember this!"
"Yes, Master!"
Zhao Er also took out a pen and diligently wrote it down in his notebook.
Walking further, Lin Sicheng paused for a moment when he reached the cabinet.
The Four Kings of the Qing Dynasty?
One painting by Wang Yuanqi, "Imitation of Huang Heshanqiao's Landscape", and two works by Wang Hui: "Water Village" and "Snow-covered Wu Mountain".
These are all genuine works, and all are large pieces, so the estimated price is not low, with each of the three pieces valued at between 2.5 million and 3.5 million.
If we look at them now, the prices of the first two paintings are roughly the same. From what I recall, they should roughly double in three or four years.
The last one is likely to rise even higher.
First, look at the painting: the composition is rigorous, with distant mountains and nearby ponds, and the arrangement of the pavilion is appropriate. The ink and color are naturally integrated, and a vast and profound atmosphere leaps off the paper.
Judging solely from the composition and brushwork, it can be identified as a mature work from his later years. Both its condition and artistic conception are significantly superior to the previous two pieces. If Lin Sicheng were to appraise it, it would be worth at least four million.
This is one point; the second is the inscription and postscript below:
The first inscription is by Guan Lun, a famous poet in the early Qing Dynasty. Before entering officialdom, he was known as one of the "Four Talented Scholars of Jiangzuo" along with Wang Shidan (the top scholar in the 42nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign), Gong Hongli (the 18th person in the second class of the imperial examination in the 45th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign), and Jiang Tingxi. During the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, he served as a secretary in the Ministry of Justice.
The second inscription reads: Chen Hao, a renowned scholar of the late Qing Dynasty, skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and landscape painting. He was considered by his contemporaries to be the foremost painter in Zhejiang after Xi Gang and Huang Yi. From the Tongzhi to the Guangxu reigns, he served as an official in Hubei for twenty years, always holding the position of county magistrate.
The third recipient is Xu Zonghao, a renowned modern Chinese calligrapher, painter, and collector. He was appointed a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History in November 1952. He served as an advisor to the Oriental Painting Association, an advisor to the Beijing Antiques Exhibition Hall, and the vice chairman of the Chinese Calligraphy Research Society.
He collaborated with Qi Baishi, Yu Feian, Wang Shengsheng, Hu Peiheng, Pu Yizhai, Pu Xuezhai, and Guan Songfang to create a painting scroll entitled "Universal Celebration," which was presented to Chairman Mao.
The fourth inscription reads: Zhu Kequan, an official magistrate of Hubei, skilled in landscape painting and also adept at painting flowers.
The fifth inscription reads: Wu Xizeng, a renowned modern Chinese landscape painter, whose work hangs in the Great Hall of the People. He served as the vice president of the Beijing Painting Academy and a representative to the Third National People's Congress. He was also the painting mentor of Mr. Qi Gong.
The sixth inscription reads: Zhang Boju, as any collector knows: the greatest collector and also the biggest antique dealer during the Republic of China era. Of course, he also protected a considerable number of cultural relics.
Recipient 7: Pan Su, wife of Zhang Boju.
Inscription No. 8: Tao Xinru, a native of Wujin, Jiangsu Province. A famous female painter during the Republic of China era, and the painting teacher of Pan Su.
The ninth inscription reads: Hui Tongxiao, a renowned modern Chinese painter, a member of the China Artists Association, and former director of the Beijing Painting Academy.
These are those with signatures and seals, and there are also those with only seals but no signatures: Gao Peilan, a late Qing Dynasty official.
Qin Zhongwen was a modern painter. He served as a professor at the Art College of Peking University, Jinghua Academy of Fine Arts, and Beiping Art College. After the liberation, he served as a painter and member of the committee of the Beijing Painting Academy. He authored "A History of Chinese Painting".
Cai Shisong was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the sixteenth year of the Jiaqing reign and was appointed as an editor. In the thirteenth year of the Daoguang reign, he was promoted from Fenglu Circuit Intendant to Anhui Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. In the fifteenth year of the Daoguang reign, he was transferred to Shuntian Prefecture as Prefect, and later served as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud.
There are twelve individuals in total: some from the early Qing Dynasty, some from the mid-Qing Dynasty, some from the late Qing Dynasty, and others from the Republic of China and modern times. They include calligraphers and painters, officials, collectors, and connoisseurs. And each of them is no ordinary person.
What is meant by sequential inheritance?
That's it.
For example, the calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Kangxi that we just saw. If those two pieces had so many inscriptions and seals, they would be worth tens of millions, let alone fifty or sixty thousand or seventy or eighty thousand.
Lin Sicheng estimated that the value of this painting should at least double the original four million.
It's worth eight or nine million, but the estimated value is only two million. Once you get your hands on it, you can make three or four times that amount on the spot.
That's what you call finding a bargain.
However, this is the capital city: a gathering place for renowned artists and experts. Anyone here could recognize the signatures and seals, and then deduce the value of the painting.
But what if?
Thinking it over, Lin Sicheng gestured.
Ye Anning immediately understood and wrote in his notebook: Wang Hui's "Snow-Covered Wu Mountain", six million.
After taking notes, the group continued down the path, but after only a few steps, Zhao Xiuneng stopped and pointed.
Lin Sicheng took a closer look: it was a scroll of poetry, calligraphy and painting by Shi Tao.
There are many poems, but few paintings. A painting space of one square foot is barely enough to make a fan.
The painting is extremely simple: two clumps of dry branches and a dozen or so winter plum blossoms.
He wrote a great many poems, some with titles and others with postscripts, totaling seven or eight.
There are also numerous seals, eleven in total, of various sizes. Some are Shi Tao's bell seals, while others are later collector's seals.
Almost all of them are famous figures: "Qingdaoren" refers to Li Ruiqing, a poet, educator, artist, and calligrapher of the late Qing and early Republican periods. During the Guangxu era, he served as the Provincial Education Commissioner of Jiangning and the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangsu.
Xiang Dizong was a member of the Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance), a senior advisor to the SC Provincial Government during the Republic of China era, a professor in the Chinese Department of the College of Arts at Sichuan University, and a professor and head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering at Sichuan University. In the 1950s, he served as a researcher at the SH Municipal Research Institute of Culture and History.
The "Small Seal of the Stone Banquet Studio" is relatively rare, so few people know about this seal. However, its owner was extremely famous: Yang Zhaojun, a seal engraver and collector during the Republic of China period, who was known as one of the "Three Iron Pens of Central Hunan" along with Qi Baishi and Yi Da'an.
Tang Yun, who is even more famous, served as the president and honorary president of the Shanghai Academy of Chinese Painting, the deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Artists Association, and a member of the appraisal committee of the Shanghai Museum.
In a few years, his works will be included in the "List of Famous Calligraphers and Painters Who Died After 1911 and Are Restricted from Leaving the Country," prohibiting them from leaving the country.
Looking at the price again: 1.5 million to 1.8 million, Lin Sicheng shook his head immediately.
Because the drawing was too simple, almost sloppy, and even somewhat perfunctory.
Even if this is indeed an authentic work by Shi Tao, and all the collectors are famous, and even if the postscript explicitly mentions that it was mounted by Zhang Daqian, it is still not worth this much.
Following the poem inscribed by Xiang Dizong and the accompanying daffodil painting: The right side contains three paintings, including ink daffodils by Shi Tao and his own inscribed poem. Brother Daqian bound them into a scroll and asked me to inscribe them, so I composed this daffodil painting as an explanation.
Therefore, not all authentic works by famous artists are valuable, even if they have a clear provenance.
Seeing Zhao Da and Zhao Er's eyes light up, ready to pounce, Lin Sicheng reminded them, "Don't be greedy!"
The two brothers immediately looked away.
The group continued looking forward, and when they came to a painting of bamboo and rocks, Lin Sicheng stopped.
Zheng Xie, "Bamboo and Rocks".
The Taiwan visa has a very long string of characters:
Listed in: "Catalogue of Ancient Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy", "Selected Ancient Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (Volume 5)", "Selected Paintings of Eight Masters of Yangzhou", "The Art of Zheng Banqiao's Paintings and Calligraphy", "Chronological Biography of Zheng Banqiao", and "Research Series on Masters of Chinese Painting in the Ming and Qing Dynasties".
But looking at the estimate again: 60,000 to 80,000?
When did Zheng Banqiao's works become so worthless?
I mentioned this to my cousin Ye when we were chatting before: her painting "Bamboo" in 2006, which was also a hanging scroll on paper, was slightly larger than this one, about fourteen square feet, and sold for 6.79 million at the China Guardian Auction.
Just two years later, a film with the same theme and not much difference in content has dropped to a fraction of its original price?
And it has been included in so many authoritative publications?
That's ridiculous.
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng examined the painting closely: the bamboo leaves were painted with dark ink, while the bamboo stalks were outlined with light ink, the contrast between the two colors creating a harmonious and interesting effect.
To be honest, it's quite well drawn. The composition is novel, the brushstrokes are concise, and although there are few strokes, the artistic conception is profound.
Looking at the characters again: they blend regular script, clerical script, running script, and cursive script, with shapes like scattered stones on a street, seemingly random, yet subtly containing a structure.
There's only one point: the characters and the painting aren't very harmonious.
Looking at the bamboo stalks, they are as strong as steel whips; looking at the bamboo leaves, they are like sharp swords drawn from their sheaths, displaying their sharpness. But looking at the characters: they are indeed chaotic, and indeed in Zheng Banqiao's "six-and-a-half-character style," but they are too soft, far from the "lean, vigorous, and aloof" and "heroic spirit" unique to Zheng Banqiao's works.
In plain terms: it's a forgery. The painting is a pretty good forgery, but the calligraphy is just so-so. Given the expertise of the Xiling Seal Society, they shouldn't be unable to tell that it's a forgery.
They probably gave it an estimate of 60,000 to 80,000 yuan because they thought the forgery was pretty good...
As he was making wild guesses, Ye Anning nudged him: "In 2003, a well-known auction house sold it for 2.6 million yuan. The following year, it was sent to Christie's, but Christie's refused it, saying it was a fake. Later, it was sent to the Palace Museum, where it was authenticated as a Guangxu-era imitation, and it was definitively confirmed that the original is in the Shanghai Museum..."
"The buyer made a scene for six months, and the auction house only said they were coordinating with the consignor, but despite all the coordination, nothing came of it. I don't know if someone suggested it, but ever since then, for every major auction, the seller consigns their item for sale, and they even invite the media to interview them during the preview. At the same time, the price has been lowered again and again, from over two million to what it is now..."
A group of people, as if listening to a story.
"No refunds, huh? I'll disgust you to death..." That's what the buyer thought, and that's what they did.
He never intended to sell; he just wanted to annoy people, so the price was just randomly set. And since it was being broadcast live, who would buy it?
Wang Qizhi asked with a strange look, "Then how did you sign the contract with the first company?"
"I don't know!" Ye Anning shook her head. "I heard that several appraisers were arrested afterward!"
Several...tsk, is it an organized case?
Wang Qizhi lowered his voice: "Which one?"
Ye Anning uttered two words.
Lin Sicheng suddenly understood: This family has done this more than once. They have done it before and will continue to do it in the future. They will be beaten to a pulp by future generations.
But this isn't surprising; almost every auction house has this phenomenon, including the one currently in question, as well as the one where Ye Anning works.
In comparison, the latter two are slightly better, at least they are not so blatant.
After taking a quick look, the group continued forward. After passing a few display cases, Lin Sicheng stopped again.
Is it Zheng Banqiao again?
After taking a second look, his pupils suddenly contracted: This one looks like an authentic work.
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