Chapter 407: The Interlocking Trap

The woman was also very careful; she looked left and right a few times, and only after finding no mechanisms did she pick up the brush washer.

She first looked at the spur marks, then the base of the body, and finally the foot ring, going back and forth several times for nearly five minutes before she began to examine the glaze and the patina. She looked and touched as she went, sometimes facing the light, sometimes from the side, and sometimes with her back to the light; her technique was extremely practiced.

"Tsk, this posture is quite professional; looks like an insider?"

"Nonsense, look at those fingers, and look at those nails—the rust has seeped into the flesh. Even if one touches antiques every day, it would take at least ten years of effort." "An Appraiser?"

"Not necessarily, could also be an Artifact Restoration expert."

Those in the know understand: one who can appraise might not be able to restore, but one who can restore can certainly appraise; the latter shows more skill than the former.

Instinctively, the surrounding noise quieted down.

The woman was very methodical and examined it very seriously; she seemed quite satisfied, nodding from time to time.

But when she saw the latter part, her brows slowly furrowed. Her gaze grew suspicious, and she would look up from time to time, as if recalling something.

Had she discovered something wrong?

Suddenly, the sound of discussion grew louder again.

The seller was relatively calm, waiting quietly.

After about another ten minutes, the woman put down the brush washer. She took a wet wipe handed to her by a companion and slowly wiped her hands.

Halfway through wiping, she paused slightly: "One million two hundred thousand, will you sell?"

"Not selling!" The seller shook his head and emphasized again: "Two million, not a cent less!"

The woman smiled: "You aren't an insider, are you?"

What does that mean?

The seller's expression was somewhat cold: "There is no rule saying that if you aren't an insider, you can't sell antiques!"

"I know, I mean, you probably don't know much!" The woman nodded, "Before coming here, did you find someone to look at it?" Nonsense, if I hadn't found someone to look at it, would I dare ask for so much?

"What business is it of yours whether I understand or not?" The seller's face turned cold: "Are you buying or not?"

"Buying, but the price must be appropriate!"

The woman threw away the wet wipe and pointed downward, "Ru Kiln uses Kaolin Clay from the foothills of Jiufeng Mountain in Baofeng, added with purple-gold clay from Ruzhou. The former contains titanium, and the latter has a high aluminum content with very little iron.

The porcelain body synthesized from these two types of clay is fine-textured, gray in color, and slightly translucent with a reddish glow. If you look at it against the light, it is extremely translucent, flesh-red, and glows with a rosy light, which is why it is called 'incense-ash body'."

"But your body is too white, the gray is too faint, it is slightly translucent under light, has no colorful halo, yet it shows orange-peel texture. If I am not mistaken, this is Macang Clay from Jingdezhen, with added Bone Powder..."

"Then let's talk about the glaze: Song Ru uses Agate in the glaze, the crystal clusters are relatively scattered, and the light spots on the glaze surface are uniform. Also, because it contains antimony, the glaze will show a faint purple halo under strong light. But this piece of yours: the glaze layer feels cold, the light spots are coarse, and it faintly shows a blue-green fluorescence under strong light. If nothing goes wrong, what was added was not Agate, but Pearl Mussel Powder, and finally, a bit of Cobalt Blue was mixed in."

"Let's talk about the crackle: Ru Porcelain has natural crackle, with at least three layers of cracks: the main pattern is crab-claw, presenting as silver threads soaking in gold; the second layer is like fish scales, with soil stains. Every third layer is like cicada wings, showing golden threads. But yours only has one layer, which is clearly a shallow fake crackle, and there is no stain color. Although there are golden threads, they are fake ones filled with tea juice..."

"To put it bluntly: the body was carved with intaglio crack lines before entering the kiln, and it was splashed with ice water after coming out of the kiln, creating artificial crackle... So, this is not Ru Kiln, and certainly not Song Porcelain, but a later imitation..."

The woman paused slightly, "The Taiwan boss from before was not wrong: this is a Ming Imitation. To be precise: an Imitation Ru Ware from the Chenghua period..." The more she said, the uglier the stall owner's face became. Before the woman could finish, he waved his hand to interrupt: "You and that person from Taiwan are in cahoots, right?" "Think what you want!" The woman smiled and took out a business card, "How about this, I'll add a little more, one million three hundred thousand. If it doesn't sell in the end, call me..."

As she spoke, the woman bent down and placed the business card into the brush washer.

The seller moved his lips, looking like he wanted to curse but didn't dare. After struggling for a long time, he put the business card away.

The woman smiled, turned, and left. The onlookers cleared a path, staring straight at the woman.

Those who can set up stalls or open shops here, and those who dare to browse here, all know a little bit, but it is limited to what they have read in books or heard through the grapevine. Because no one has ever seen what a real Ru Kiln looks like. At most, they know that Ru Porcelain has an incense-ash body and that the Sky Blue Glaze uses Agate. Besides that, 99% of people don't know what color it transmits when viewed from the side, what color it transmits when viewed from the front, what light the glaze layer reflects, how many layers of crackle there are, or what the characteristics of each layer are.

As for the difference between Baofeng clay and Macang Clay, what elements they contain, and what halos and patterns they lead to, most people have never even heard of them. Therefore, it would be a lie to say they aren't impressed.

Jing Zeyang was dumbfounded: is she really an expert?

The key is that unique, confident, and professional temperament.

Jing Zeyang considers himself well-traveled and knowledgeable, and he felt: apart from Lin Sicheng, this woman was the second one he had ever seen.

He stared at the woman's back for a long time: "Cousin Lin, this woman is amazing, right?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: She is indeed quite amazing. In just ten minutes, she could see everything clearly from the foot to the body, from the glaze to the surface, and even from the inside out, including the crackle and Ice Crackle.

She is definitely a bit worse than him, but she is absolutely stronger than Zhao Shixiong.

The key is the rust on her hands; she must have been doing restoration for at least twenty years. Looking at her age, she probably entered the trade in her teens; it's quite possible she is like Zhao Shixiong, with a family-inherited craft.

Just as he was sighing, Jing Zeyang looked strange again: "Cousin Lin, since it is imitation porcelain, why can it still sell for over a million?"

If that Pangzi was deliberately driving up the price, this woman shouldn't be. Jing Zeyang could tell: as long as the seller nodded, she would have bought it. "Because even if it is an imitation, it can only be an Official Kiln imitation!"

"Because of the pearls?"

"Yes and no!"

Lin Sicheng explained, "It's not that Bone Powder and pearls are expensive, but that both are organic materials: without sufficient technological conditions, it is impossible to ensure that the Bone Powder and pearl powder exert their ideal effects under high temperatures of over a thousand degrees..."

Jing Zeyang suddenly realized: let alone a thousand degrees, it would be burned away at five or six hundred degrees; the common people simply didn't have this technology.

Not to mention that this kind of porcelain with special additives could not be mass-produced at all, just the two terms "Ming Dynasty Official Kiln" and "Chenghua" make this thing worth one or two million.

"Let's go over and take a look!"

Lin Sicheng gestured with his chin: "Can't get close anymore!"

Was it snatched by someone else again?

Jing Zeyang subconsciously looked up: two men, one nearly sixty and one in his early thirties, with the manager who had asked the seller to move earlier following behind them.

The manager introduced them as the boss and the company's chief Appraiser.

After some polite exchanges, the young boss picked up the brush washer.

He was quite careful and looked quite serious, but after just one glance, Lin Sicheng had a judgment: this boss probably didn't know much.

At least he didn't know much about Ru Porcelain.

Perhaps this was his first time seeing a complete piece of Ru Porcelain.

Sure enough, after looking for a long time, the boss couldn't figure it out.

He held the brush washer and handed it to the old man: "Teacher Hu, Macang Clay plus Bone Powder, this is a formula that only existed in the Ming Dynasty, right?"

The old man took it into his hands: "Yes, Yongle Sweet White, Xuande Blue and White, Chenghua Doucai, all have bodies made of Macang Clay plus Bone Powder."

"Then what about adding pearl powder to the glaze?"

"Just like Cobalt Blue, it is a technique that only existed during the Yuan Dynasty."

"In that case, is this really a Ming Imitation?" The boss's eyes lit up. "That Pangzi from Taiwan earlier had a sharp eye, didn't he?"

The old man was noncommittal: looking quickly does not mean one is skilled.

Firstly, there is a relatively large quantity of Ming Dynasty porcelain extant; secondly, when the Qing Dynasty banned books, a portion of those related to people's livelihoods remained, so the formulas and craftsmanship of Ming Dynasty Official Kilns are no secret.

As long as one is an insider, they have basically learned about them. For those with a bit more experience, judging whether a piece of porcelain is a Ming Imitation based on the porcelain clay, body quality, and glaze color is not too difficult.

What is difficult is being able to make a comprehensive comparison like the woman behind: what are the characteristics of the body of a true Ru Porcelain, and what are the characteristics of a Ming Imitation. What is the color of the glaze on a genuine piece, and what is the color on an imitation, and even how it was imitated, how the aging was done, and even which period it was imitated in and what kind of craftsmanship was used—all can be determined clearly.

If the old man were to tell the truth: that woman is more skilled than him, and not just by a little bit.

Secretly sighing with emotion, the old man looked carefully.

Seeing the master craftsman even take out a Magnifying Glass, the boss very consciously shut his mouth.

Fearing that he would influence the old man, the manager took cigarettes and passed them around, and the noise in the crowd quieted down a lot.

Many people felt it was uninteresting and left after taking a look, but even more people came after hearing the news.

The circle grew larger, blocking the entire aisle. It wasn't until the market office sent two security guards that a path was cleared.

Jing Zeyang didn't understand and pointed at the sign for Rao Yu Zhai: "Since you are the boss, why not go into the shop to look?"

Lin Sicheng was concise: "To build momentum!"

He understood: if the item is real, Rao Yu Zhai will acquire it. Whether they can reach two million is hard to say, but it will certainly be higher than what that woman offered. But if Rao Yu Zhai takes it back, they certainly won't just put it in the shop for display; of course, it is to make money. Therefore, the greater the momentum, the better; the more people who know, the better...

"Cousin Lin, if it is a Chenghua Official Imitation, how much is it worth?"

Lin Sicheng stretched out his fingers and gestured.

Jing Zeyang looked suspicious: five fingers should represent five, right?

But that woman earlier had already offered 1.3 million.

"Five hundred thousand?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "Five million!"

Jing Zeyang's eyes widened: a genuine Song Dynasty Ru Porcelain is only five million, so how can a Ming Dynasty imitation porcelain also be five million?

Lin Sicheng sighed: he never said that this piece was a genuine Ru Porcelain.

One could figure it out: with no more than two hundred pieces in the whole world, how could a genuine Song Dynasty Ru Porcelain only be a few million?

Even though it is only 2008 now, whenever a Ru vessel appears, even if the vessel shape is small, it must be tens of millions or over a hundred million.

Since there are no more than two hundred genuine vessels, then where do the ones on the market—especially those auctioned by major auction companies, with at least ten thousand pieces auctioned in a year—come from?

The answer is here: later imitations.

The Jin Dynasty imitated them, the Yuan Dynasty imitated them, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties imitated them even more; even foreign countries have imitated them.

Of course, the most numerous are modern imitations; this kind can be summarized in two words: forgeries.

Next are Qing imitations: during the reigns of Yongzheng and Qianlong, the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln specifically set aside a kiln site to fire imitation Ru porcelain, and most of the so-called true Ru porcelain circulating on the market today is of this type.

If this type is auctioned, most auction companies will directly label it as "Song Ru Porcelain." But buyers know clearly: you can't buy Song Ru for a few million or ten million.

But there are also auction companies that will clearly mark the price: Qing Imitation, Ming Imitation, and will even specify which emperor. But the price will not be low; the starting price is often several million, and records of transactions in the tens of millions are everywhere.

Relatively speaking, there are many from the Qing Dynasty and few from the Ming Dynasty, so the price is naturally a bit higher. And among them, the most expensive is the Chenghua Imitation.

Ma Weidou has one in his collection, which he acquired in the early nineties for seventy thousand yuan. By around 2020, the valuation was nearly thirty million. But that was a large piece: a Chenghua Imitation Ru Glaze Elephant-Ear Censer; placed in 2008, it would only be around ten million.

This piece happens to be a small vessel shape; if it really is a Chenghua Imitation, it is about seven or eight million. If it is impossible to determine the specific era, it is generally classified as a Qing Imitation. If it is Sky Blue Glaze and the condition is not bad, it is at least four or five million.

Earlier, Lin Sicheng had estimated the price based on this.

Lin Sicheng explained in a low voice, and Jing Zeyang clicked his tongue in wonder: "If an imitation can sell for so much, if one happens to pick up a genuine piece, wouldn't that be a fortune?" Fang Jin was right next to them and couldn't help but curl his lip: "Brother Jing, you're overthinking it!"

Indeed, with no more than two hundred pieces in the world, one would have to pull strings and use the Backdoor just to get a look, let alone "pick one up."

Fang Jin felt: unless one's luck is so good it's heaven-defying.

"I'm not asking to pick up a Song Dynasty one; a Ming Dynasty one would also do, just like this piece: spend two million, and you double your money in one flip!"

Jing Zeyang looked regretful, "Cousin Lin, we came too late!"

Lin Sicheng didn't speak, just smiled.

Luck is something mysterious and elusive; how can one happen to run into it every time and pick up a big bargain every time?

Besides, whether it is a Chenghua Imitation remains to be seen after looking.

While pondering, he looked at the old man again: he was indeed quite serious and careful. In such strong sun, using both a high-magnification Magnifying Glass and a High-intensity Flashlight. But he always felt that this Chief Appraiser seemed a bit unsure: sometimes thoughtful, sometimes suspicious.

After another ten minutes or so, the old man raised his head and stared at the man in the cotton-padded jacket: "Two million at the lowest?"

After all, since they were occupying someone else's space, the man's attitude was very polite: "Please forgive me, the price has already been discounted to the bone!"

The old man nodded, scrutinized it a few more times, hesitant and indecisive. But in the end, he still put the Brush Washer back.

The boss next to him was stunned, and the manager behind him was also taken aback.

From beginning to end, the master craftsman had looked for nearly half an hour; they had thought that today's business deal was secure.

But the two didn't say anything, exchanged a look, and returned to the steps.

The stall owner was quite calm and smiled at the three of them.

Jing Zeyang didn't understand: "Why didn't he buy it? Was the price too high?"

It certainly wasn't a question of the price being high or low; even if it were just a Qing Imitation, the price of two million was already a deep discount.

It was that the old man couldn't be sure, and was even less certain.

After all, it wasn't a small item; a full two million would make even the biggest boss's heart ache.

Just as he was thinking this, more people walked in.

This time there were quite a few people, four or five men, women, old and young. Just as they stood still, the old man and the boss who had returned to the steps walked back.

Both sides knew each other and shook hands. One listen to the way they addressed each other and it was clear: the older one should be an Expert appraiser.

Whether it was the boss or the master, their attitudes were quite humble; it seemed he had a great reputation.

Jing Zeyang looked astonished: "Good heavens, Zhongboya Appraisal Center... a state-level appraisal institution?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: Just because a name contains "Zhong" doesn't necessarily mean it's an authoritative institution backed by the government.

However, some private institutions have even greater reputations in the circle than official ones, such as Zhongboya.

The reason is simple: this appraisal center has many genuine Experts presiding over it. Not to mention the others, just look at two of the Experts there: the former Deputy Director Yang of the Palace Museum and the former Secretary-General Wang of the China Collectors Association.

Professional enough, authoritative enough, right?

But within a year at most, this center will have its business license revoked and its appraisal qualifications stripped: the "Golden Jade Suit" that shocked China and abroad and swindled hundreds of millions was appraised by them.

Two jade suits, one green jade and one White Jade, were made of rather poor quality Xiuyan jade; in the words of the main culprit: they weren't worth much. Yet he invited five Experts led by Deputy Director Yang, who just walked around the display case once without even touching the items, and gave an appraisal of "2.4 billion."

Then, relying on the Identification Certificate from the five Experts, the main culprit borrowed 600 million from the bank...

The case has already broken, the main culprit has been apprehended, and I recall the sentencing isn't until the end of next year. Because the case value is so huge and the impact so egregious, and it is currently in the investigation stage, not many people know about it.

Therefore, the current Zhongboya is still at the height of its power, so it's no wonder the boss and Chief Appraiser of Rao Yu Zhai are so humble.

That said, as for how professional they really are, it's hard to say: in any case, Lin Sicheng has neither heard of nor seen these two current ones. Knowing they came by reputation specifically to see the Brush Washer, the boss invited them enthusiastically, saying he would host them at the shop.

But the Experts politely declined, saying they were just here to see something rare, would take a look and leave, and might not necessarily buy.

After a few polite exchanges, the group arrived at the stall.

The Expert surnamed Liu picked up the Brush Washer; his hands were steady and quite professional, and whether it was the sequence or the angle, there was quite a bit of expertise to it.

The seller's face was full of smiles, bowing and scraping with a few compliments, looking utterly pitiful.

But for some reason, Lin Sicheng always felt something was off.

Where exactly it was wrong, he couldn't say for a moment; it was sudden and inexplicable.

But it certainly wasn't that the item was wrong: from seven or eight meters away, with the sun so bright and so many interfering factors, unless Lin Sicheng had eyes of fire and gold, he couldn't tell. It wasn't until the Expert finished looking, let his companion who came with him start looking, and then asked the stall owner a few questions, that Lin Sicheng realized it in hindsight.

It wasn't that the item was wrong, nor was it that the Experts were wrong, but the seller.

At first glance, it was very normal, but Lin Sicheng wouldn't dare claim anything else, except that his memory is good.

With those previous people, whether it was the boss from Taiwan, the middle-aged woman, or even that master from Rao Yu Zhai, the seller's attitude had been quite indifferent: neither servile nor overbearing, calm and unruffled.

And vaguely, it revealed a sense of casualness, or even perfunctoriness.

But as soon as these people arrived, the seller's attitude took a sharp turn: his pitiful demeanor revealed humility, and his urgency revealed sycophancy.

There was also a sense of anxiety and extreme caution.

That's right: because his wife was critically ill, he had to take out his ancestral treasure to sell at a discount; it was as if the man had been forced to the foot of Liangshan. By logic, he should have had this expression all along.

Then why wasn't he like this when the previous people were looking, even showing some impatience?

Lin Sicheng pondered for a moment and suddenly realized: Good heavens, a chain trap?