Nineteenth Century Medical Guide

Chapter 320 316. Internal Competition
In the 19th century, the rapid industrial development and foreign colonization brought a lot of wealth to the European continent, and urban upstarts also sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

But if you want to make more and more money, it is impossible to leave it like this, and you need to find investment targets. From the second half of the 19th century to the early 20th century, there was no national debt, the gold standard was limited by gold production, and inflation was very stable, that is, there was no inflation.

Under the premise of low inflation and even occasional deflation, there are not many things worth investing in.

In addition to trust funds for infrastructure construction, government bonds, various types of corporate financing, and real estate leasing, they can only invest in various sideline businesses to earn extra money.Stocks and gold are a stagnant pool, and luxury brands have just started, so it is far worse than putting them in the bank to earn interest.

However, due to the uncertainty in the economy, the return on investment fluctuates greatly, coupled with the imperfection of laws and technology, there are many loopholes in some financing and trust funds, and it is easy to return to the situation before liberation overnight.

Under such a background, many people are keen to buy hard currencies such as wine and jewelry, at least not losing money.

Compared with these things, the special temperament of artworks seems out of place.

Whether it is Paris, France in the 19th century or the United States in the 21st century, the art market is extremely fragile.The main and fundamental problem is that artworks do not provide any benefits other than the art itself.

To put it bluntly, it is useless to hold it.

Compared with "low liquidity", "low transparency", "high transaction costs" and "unable to achieve standardized appraisal and valuation", this point is even more daunting for investors.

Even though the pursuit of works of art reached a frenzy in the 19th century, and even though everyone was willing to enter the auction house to see if there was any work they wanted that they could afford, there were only a handful of things that could really sell for a high price.

One of the important reasons is that people who buy it really like it enough after thinking that it will not depreciate in value, and those who don't like it will not waste their money too much.

In fact, even in modern times, whether art is worth investing in is widely debated.Perhaps relying on complex data models can support the view that "art can be an effective investment", but it still cannot avoid the shortcoming of "cannot measure the intangible attributes of art in the aesthetic sense with similar stock price charts".

But that has nothing to do with Carvey.

He doesn't understand history or art, but he understands the appreciation space of artworks.

With this logical relationship, considering the less than 3% interest of the bank, the long-term income of artworks must win.In addition, buying a large number of other items can also dilute his obsession with oriental collections, so why not do it.

Carvey looked at Lot No. 600 on the auction table [manuscripts of two Mozart minuets], and raised his hand: "1 francs."【[-]】

"The gentleman on the left, continue to bid 600 francs!" Bernard realized that today would be a good day after seeing the jade girl pen holder being pocketed by Carvey with an amount nearly twice the estimated price, "Is there any more bids?" of?"

The two queens were surprised why Carvey was obsessed with a dead man's manuscript, even though the other party was a talented musician at the time, but the music left behind is the most important.

"He is from Austria, Your Majesty the Queen." Carvey smiled and explained his reasons, "When I saw it, I decided to send it back to Austria."

"He's really nostalgic."

600 francs has obviously reached the critical line of the audience, and no one is willing to pay a large price for such a yellowed sheet music.With Bernard dropping the hammer, the manuscript also fell into Carvey's hands.

The third [Qing Dynasty soldiers' clothing and weapons accessories] and the fourth [Little Bronze Dragon] were also bought by Carvey for two 500 francs.

Until the fifth piece [Maison Porcelain Teacup and Saucer], it was finally won by Elizabeth who was sitting aside for 1000 francs: "I have no resistance to this porcelain, just like you have no resistance to Oriental collections."

"I understand this feeling." Eugenie smiled and comforted her, "But I have met my opponent today. Dr. Carvey probably wants to take home all the things that Elizabeth doesn't want."

"The next one, today's sixth lot, [The Drinker at Saint-Simon's Farm-Eugène Boudin]."【2】

Bernard introduced: "This work is a new impressionist painting style. It is difficult to find the outline of the characters in the picture. In today's Paris, there are mixed reviews. Since the seller has certain requirements for the price of this painting, the starting price is fixed. At 300 francs."

Impressionism.
What Carvey thinks of is Monet, and others don't know.But since the price was really cheap, he still raised his hand and bid once.It was because of this asking price that the oil painting entered Carvey's hands again.

Only 450 francs?

Carvey couldn't imagine it, and neither could the people around him, because Eugène Boudin was not well-known and sounded more like a poor newcomer.It is already quite good to take away the reserve price. If you can go to the art exhibition, the price may be even lower.

After all, 100 francs is enough to make an ordinary painter live for a long time.

However, Bernard, who finally gave up the hammer, did not announce that Carvey had won the oil painting, because the reserve price proposed by Brigadier General Avery was 600 francs, which could only be unsold.

Unsuccessful auctions are a common occurrence at auctions, and Bernard has long been used to it.What's more, when he appraised the painting, he only gave an estimate of 400 francs.If you want to be higher, it can only be caused by accidental factors.

The reality was just as he thought, and Kavey was the accident factor.

Bernard was very curious why this young man wanted to have a foot in all the auction items, to show his wealth?Or do you want to show your taste in front of the two queens?Or a hobby of collecting?

It feels neither.

What Carvey showed is more like a nouveau riche who has nowhere to spend and spends money at will.

But if you are really a nouveau riche, why not go to the Angel special next door, that is where the real nouveau riche gather, why bother to come here to dig through the trash.

While doing the psychological assessment and identity analysis for Carvey, another part of Bernard's brain has already sped up the pace, trying to make people forget about the unhappiness of the failed auction as soon as possible: "The seventh lot, [part of the manuscript book of the Old Summer Palace in China], the starting price 400 francs."

"Book? What book?"

"We haven't seen it in the catalogue."

"Let's not talk about catalogs, I didn't see any booklets in these two exhibitions."

"Did you forget to add the catalog, or didn't you want to add it at all? Or"

There were a lot of noisy questioning voices off the court immediately, Bernard knew that this would happen, and his expression was extraordinarily calm: "Everyone, this is not a problem with the auction, it is something temporarily added by the Marquis of Avery."

"We haven't seen the exhibition or introduced it, so how can we believe it's true?"

Bernard sighed: "The writing on it is all vertically arranged Chinese characters, and the typesetting and binding are also in oriental style. The introduction is very simple. It is just a book that no one knows what is written. The starting price is 400 francs."

Carvey couldn't see the shape of the book, and the handwriting was even more blurred.

But it is something that has been taken and must be bought: "400 francs."

Queen Eugenie smiled, raised her hand and said, "500 francs."

"600 francs."

"700."

Eugenie once again overshadowed Carvey's price, and the competition between the two gradually increased: "Your Majesty, aren't you not interested in oriental writing, calligraphy and painting?"

"Huh? Where is it?" Eugenie said with a smile, slightly raising the corners of her eyes that had been falling all the time, "I just don't understand what they wrote, and I don't understand their mood in painting. It doesn't mean I don't want it."

Carvey sighed, smiled and shook his head: "This is really too bad"

The two people's longing for the oriental collection has all entered Bernard's eyes, and the competitive relationship has been established. The next thing to do is to add firewood to this relationship and make them compete more fiercely: "700 francs, is there any bid?" of?"

"."

"Queen Eugenie is now bidding 700"

"."

"700 francs, now 700 francs!"

His voice gradually increased, and the frequency of quotations also began to increase, hoping to use repeated quotations to arouse Kawei's desire to bid.Unexpectedly, Carvey raised his hand suddenly, and what he said was not the price, but a request: "Excuse me, can I go up to the stage and have a look at the contents of this booklet?"

"This gentleman, it's full of Chinese characters." Bernard was a little taken aback, "I don't think anyone can understand what's written in it except Marquis Hervé and the yellow-skinned Chinese."

"It is also true that there are no catalogs and exhibitions." Carvey said.

"Well, if you insist on this, I have no objection." Bernard politely made a gesture of invitation, "But in order to maintain the overall time of the auction, it is only limited to 3 minutes."

"no problem."

However, Carvey hurried onto the stage, only turned two pages in front of everyone, and quickly returned to his seat.

"What did you see on it?" Eugenie was puzzled, "Do you understand their writing?"

"I know a student from China who came here to study here, and I learned the names of several Chinese emperors from him. Believe me, it is really difficult to understand, more complicated than the complicated medical anatomy relationship." Carvey explained, " But thanks to this, I can now be sure that the names of the emperors are indeed on it."

"so."

"So I can't give up at least now." Carvey raised his hand, "750 francs."

"Okay, this gentleman bids 750 francs! 750 francs!" The fast pace just now was interrupted, which also interrupted the atmosphere that Bernard "forced" the two people to increase the price. Taking the initiative at the auction, "This book is valued at more than 800 francs. Is there any price increase?"

The sudden appearance of the Chinese became a variable in the competition between the two.

Both Eugenie and Elizabeth are important figures on the political stage of their respective countries, but unlike Elizabeth who pursues freedom and romance, Eugenie appears more stable and smoother than her husband.

She wanted the booklet, but the booklet would only add to the thickness of the table mats in the China Pavilion.And the "Chinese".
The stack of books was easily taken down by Kawei again.

"That Chinese?" Carvey looked embarrassed, "He is very interested in French science and technology, especially in medicine, and is very eager to learn. But he is very disgusted with France's plundering of their country's cultural relics, and I don't think he can help you. "

"What if I give money? Enough money!"

It was the first time for Karvey to stare at the beautiful queen in front of him with such solemn eyes, and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing after persisting for a while: "Your Majesty, I don't think mere money can move his heart."

"Is he rich?"

"It is definitely rich to be able to come to France to study alone, but in all fairness." Carvey sighed and changed the way of comparison, "If Her Majesty the Queen encounters an important relic left by His Majesty Napoleon I there, she will definitely not return it if the other party refuses to return it." Under the circumstances, for money to tell the historical significance of these things."

This sentence may offend the other party, but after a few simple exchanges, Carvey knows that even if the other party is really angry, he will not turn his face against him in public.

Comparing Napoleon's things with Chinese books did make Eugenie a little angry, but this expression only flashed across her face.Anger seemed to be just an invisible key that disappeared without a trace after opening the door for her.

"Then I don't know how Dr. Carvey made friends with him?"

"Hehe, I am in a similar situation as Her Majesty the Queen. After learning that I also covet their things, he didn't give me any good looks."

Originally, Kawei wanted to bring Shanwang into the auction, but he refused.

He is very clear that what he really needs is not these meaningless things. Artworks and cultural relics have only aesthetic and a little historical significance.Even if they were all sent back to the country now, they would definitely be robbed a second time or a third time.

So Shanwang made a request to Kawei as a "remuneration" for teaching him knowledge of oriental culture.

"My name is Shanwang Zhong, and I'm an intern at the Zhugong Hospital." Shanwang knocked on the door of the hotel room where Kawei's three assistants were staying.

"The main palace hospital?" Damirgang who opened the door was a little surprised by the other party's complexion, but the name of the hospital must not be false, "Please come in."

"The three of you just came from Vienna, and you don't know much about the situation in the Main Palace Hospital. Next, I will be in charge of reporting the medical history." Shanwang's French is very awkward, so he skipped the self-introduction and went straight to the topic, "including Just completed cystotomy, ectopic pregnancy resection, craniotomy to hematoma and cesarean section”

The three of them were still in the hotel waiting for Carvey to tell them about the surgery these days, and it was difficult to adapt to the sudden arrival of yellow skin: "Where is Dr. Carvey?"

"He went to the auction, and I will do the medical history report."

Bergett didn't quite understand the logical relationship: "These are the medical histories written by Dr. Carvey?"

"Well, mostly yes."

"Then put them on the table and we'll take a look."

I don't know when, the three people who claimed to be Kawei's assistants have formed their own small group, and an invisible wall has been formed between the others and them.This is not a healthy competitive environment, but will increase their inertia.

"No, no, you misunderstood." Shanwang showed a long-lost smile, "Dr. Kawei asked me to do the medical history report in person."

(End of this chapter)