Live Appreciation, Congratulations to Brother

In the conference room of Christie's Hong Kong.

Shen Yangling handed Zhang Yang a list of items to be auctioned.

It's thick, with dozens of pages.

Each page has a photo, text description and estimate of the lot.

The items above are the items they have planned internally for this summer auction.

This auction is the "Christie's Shenghai Evening Sale".

It's not a big auction.

It can only be regarded as the closing venue for Christie’s entire summer auction.

"To be honest, Master Zhang, our previous development situation in Shenghai was very bad."

Shen Yangling introduced Zhang Yang with a grimace on her face.

Every time she introduces this incident, it brings back painful memories of her failure.

In the ten years since Christie's entered the mainland market, it has changed venues three times, fired four general managers in China, and was suspended for three years in between.

With so many ups and downs, if it were a start-up company, it would basically be a death sentence.

But they are Christie's, one of the two largest auction houses in the world.

So they are still struggling and even want to turn over.

This Shenghai evening show is their attempt.

“There are a total of 50 lots in this booklet, and our goal is to sell 60 to exquisite items.”

"Fifty pieces? Why so few?"

Zhang Yang was surprised by the number of lots.

Given the size of Christie's, and in an international metropolis like Shenghai, it's already strange to hold only one evening auction.

Normally it should be divided into several days and several venues.

In the end, it’s okay to hold one event, and the number of auction items is so small?
Not to mention two or three hundred, at least more than a hundred, right?

"This is because we have just obtained the qualification for cultural relics auction this year and we dare not take too big steps."

"Before, in Shenghai, we could only auction art works."

Shen Yangling came over and helped Zhang Yang turn to the front of the booklet.

The above briefly introduces the auction results in 22.

When Zhang Yang saw it, he was like, he actually took 40 pictures.

But the turnover is a bit high, it's 220 million.

But when he saw the lot, Zhang Yang was happy.

They are all masters of abstraction. The one closest to reality is Picasso, and his works were not sold at auction.

The co-authorship is a special session on abstract art.

It is indeed easy to fetch a high price, and there is a lack of such legal laundering opportunities in China.

“Can Picasso’s paintings also fail to be auctioned?”

Zhang Yang looked at Shen Yangling curiously.

Unsuccessful auctions are the biggest negative to auction organizers.

Not only does it mean a waste of publicity resources and the location of the lot, but it also involves expensive storage fees, freight and insurance.

In response, Shen Yangling replied with a wry smile:
"This is because there was a problem with the early market research."

"That's why we insisted on finding someone who understands the mainland antique market to help make the selection this time."

"understood."

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded, jokingly saying:
"Then the burden on me is a bit heavy."

"Don't worry, Director Zhang, we won't let you suffer."

"Don't worry, of course I am."

"Okay, let's stop talking nonsense and start looking at these East Asian cultural relics."

Zhang Yang stood up and said.

Shen Yangling made a polite gesture of invitation.

On the way to the warehouse, Zhang Yang browsed through all the auction catalogues.

Even though there are only over a hundred pieces, there are quite a lot of categories.

And the valuation of each piece is not low.

In Shen Yangling's opinion, it may be that "the palms and backs of the hands are full of flesh".

Otherwise, Zhang Yang would not be given a pre-selected list with an elimination rate of over 60%.

In the pre-selected list, East Asian cultural relics were the least represented.

After all, if we count antiques, apart from China, there are only two countries in East Asia: Goryeo and Japan.

Although there are few items, the quality is beyond Zhang Yang’s imagination.

This "quality" mainly refers to the valuation aspect.

The one with the highest valuation is a white-glazed moon jar.

From the Goryeo region in the 18th century.

The estimate given by Christie's is 1400 million RMB.

The starting price is usually lower than the estimated price, but it is definitely over 1000 million.

To be honest, this white porcelain jar is not very suitable for promoting my oriental aesthetic.

If you were to write an identification word, it would be:
The shape is asymmetrical and skewed;
The circle foot is too small and the center of gravity is not stable;

The trimming is not neat enough and the enamel is not pure.

In ancient China, this was a kiln waste or defective product.

But how to put it, maybe sometimes incompleteness is also a kind of beauty.

In the eyes of Chinese ceramic connoisseurs, this kind of white porcelain is considered a defective product, but it is the favorite of modern Western designers.

In addition, this type of porcelain is very rare. There are currently no more than 20 pieces in the world, so it has been fetched sky-high prices in recent years.

In fact, there are no more than twenty pieces, so there is a reason for it to be hyped.

Anyway, the valuation of 1400 million is really not a random estimate.

Sotheby's once held a special auction for a white-glazed moon jar of the same type, and the entire auction was devoted to just this one.

"Master Zhang, do you think this is okay?"

Shen Yangling asked in a low voice, she was a little worried about Zhang Yang's impulsiveness.

After all, many of the mainland collectors she had come into contact with before turned their noses up at this kind of East Asian auction item.

It's somewhat unprofessional.

"It's okay, to be determined."

Zhang Yang put a question mark on the roster.

"If there is no better auction item, it will be no problem for this piece to be shortlisted. Some people in China are still interested in this kind of internationally recognized porcelain."

"Because it is valuable, it is not restricted by domestic cultural relics policies and can be traded freely."

"Oh, I understand, this thing can be used as a gift." Shen Yangling suddenly realized.

"There's no need to elaborate on this..."

"As long as you know it yourself, let's continue."

The second East Asian cultural relic Zhang Yang saw was a painting by Katsushika Hokusai.

The estimated value is 500 million RMB.

Do neon painters still have this ability?

Zhang Yang was a little curious.

But when I walked to the display case, I took a look at the content of the painting.

Is it this painting? That's okay.

Zhang Yang has no impression of neon painters and artists.

But this painting gives people a very familiar feeling, as if they have seen it somewhere.

It is estimated that later cartoonists paid tribute to this painting.

Zhang Yang also gave this painting a "to be determined".

Ranked below this painting is another kind of porcelain from the Goryeo Kingdom.

This time, Zhang Yang crossed directly on the back.

This kind of thing is not too valuable, not too rare, and not as beautiful as the porcelain from the folk kilns of the third and third dynasties of the Qing Dynasty at the same time. It really doesn't deserve to be auctioned, right?

In other words, there is really nothing left to steal from the Chinese people, so this kind of thing has to be sent for auction.

Zhang Yang immediately gave him all the crosses.

Of course, his reasons are very valid:
"In fact, in the eyes of domestic people, Goryeo porcelain is a separate category, probably equivalent to the Kangxi blue and white general jar."

"One masterpiece is enough."

"As for the neon stuff, let's save it for the auction in Tokyo. There is absolutely no market in Shenghai."

"I understand." Shen Yangling nodded. She also asked the female assistant who was following her to write down what Zhang Yang said.

The valuable content in these words was what they would discuss in a meeting later.

After getting rid of the East Asian cultural relics, Zhang Yang's attention was attracted by European cultural relics.

The one with the highest estimate is an Egyptian bronze cat.

It was cast in the Ptolemaic period (about 332-30 BC), which is equivalent to the Western Han Dynasty in China.

The items are not expensive, and the estimated price is only 600 million RMB.

It is definitely within the acceptable range of some collectors in China.

But Zhang Yang is not focused on this, but on the sources of item information, one of which shows:
This thing was stolen from a museum somewhere in Egypt by an Ahmed man and sent to a British collector.

It happened just a few months ago.

Zhang Yang glanced at Shen Yangling doubtfully.

Shen Yangling was very sensitive and immediately asked him after noticing Zhang Yang's eyes:

"Is there something wrong with this thing?"

"When you collected the auction items, did you check the origin of the items?" Zhang Yang asked rhetorically.

"Of course, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just that I think bronze cats like this are usually found in pyramids, right?"

Zhang Yang deliberately didn't tell the truth, he wanted to know what was going on.

"That was a long time ago."

Shen Yangling explained with a smile:
"Like this lot, it was sent by our senior members in Europe."

"This member himself is a master of the collection circle. He was once an employee of the British Museum. There has never been anything wrong with the items he has sent for auction over the years..."

"So when you investigate the origin, you won't just ask this member, right?" Zhang Yang asked rhetorically.

"You can't say that. Our investigation is quite rigorous."

Shen Yangling wanted to explain, but in the face of the facts, her explanation seemed a little feeble.

"Okay, I understand." Zhang Yang nodded.

Since he was so sure that he had investigated it, he had nothing to say.

It’s not certain whether the so-called Christie’s member is a real person.

What if it’s a white glove from Christie’s?

continue.

Zhang Yang looked at more than twenty Greek, European, and Egyptian antiques in a row, but none of them caught his eye.

The value is low and the recognition is so poor that he can’t even recognize it.

During the preview of these things, except for the golden mask, no one should have seen them.

Zhang Yang put a question mark on the ancient Greek golden mask and denied the rest.

Including the East Asian cultural relics that were previously rejected, there are 160 pre-selected lots, and the odds will soon be removed.

Only one hundred and eight pieces remain.

But the next choice will be more difficult, because they are all traditional cultural relics of China.

One out of every two items must be eliminated.

"Are you really not considering expanding the quantity?"

Zhang Yang wanted to be lazy, so he asked Shen Yangling and explained:

"In my opinion, these things have the value of being auctioned. In Shenghai, as long as you set the starting price well, it should not fail."

"Master Zhang, let me explain to you too."

Shen Yangling walked up to Zhang Yang and whispered in his ear:

"The cultural relics business license for this auction is temporary. The leader who approved it specifically asked us not to bid too much."

"Low-key."

“Try to go the boutique route.”

"So that's it. Is the approval leader's surname Chu?" Zhang Yang asked.

Although Lao Chu has retired, before him and Xiao Chu, there was another "Zhong Chu" who probably also held an important position in the Cultural Relics Bureau.

It's just that because of seniority issues, I can't say anything.

Zhang Yang was actually very curious about where "Zhong Chu" was, but Lao Chu didn't mention it, and Xiao Chu deliberately didn't say anything.

He still doesn't know the result.

"There seems to be a person named Chu who is responsible for archiving the auction items. I once sent him information."

"Oh, that should be the person who manages the cultural relics for sale."

Zhang Yang nodded, understanding why Lao Chu didn't mention his nephew.

It turned out that I was working in a civilian position in a marginal department.

But this also shows one thing, that is, they really don’t have connections, otherwise they would have changed departments long ago.

"Okay, since there are requirements from above, it's really hard to violate them."

Zhang Yang nodded and started to look at the auction item with the highest estimate.

A piece from the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, with blue and white intertwining branches and four-season floral patterns folded along the edges.

After looking at the crooked melons and cracked jujubes of Korea just now, let’s look at the traditional blue and white porcelain.

It is simply a pleasure for Zhang Yang.

Especially the blue and white porcelain from Yongle period of Ming Dynasty.

Of course, if you want to have this kind of enjoyment all the time, you need to pay at least 2500 million.

This is just an estimate.

Zhang Yang estimates that the transaction price must be upwards of 3000 million.

The reason is very simple. This is really a piece of the Forbidden City and a piece of art here.

It's just that the same type of things have completely different fates.

This piece was taken out to sea by Zheng He during the Yongle period and transported to what is now India.

Later he moved to England.

In fact, the name can also be seen by looking at the shape of the vessel. This kind of folded and washed vessel is not found in traditional Chinese porcelain.

Incorporating some styles from the Islamic regions of Western Asia.

The earliest such artifacts were unearthed in West Asia.

According to the official information provided by Christie's, there is also a similar collection in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

This is a 30 million treasure.

Zhang Yang suddenly felt that Cheng Erye's idea of ​​trying to find treasures in West Asia made some sense.

There really might be treasures over there.

It depends on whether you have that luck or not.

If you meet one, you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life.

Under this blue and white folded edge wash, the one with the second highest estimate is a "Blue and White Underglaze Red Cloud Sea and Soaring Dragon Pattern Celestial Ball Vase", Yongzheng official kiln, six-character regular script inscription.

Estimated value is 1800 million.

"This estimate is a bit low."

"Blue and white porcelain with red underglaze, or such a complete celestial sphere vase, for less than 2500 million, they are both bargain prices."

After Zhang Yang finished his evaluation, he glanced at Shen Yangling.

"Is there any flaw in this thing? Is there something wrong with the tires underneath?"

"Yes." Shen Yangling nodded and explained, "There was a problem with this item during transportation."

"Then do you know why there is a problem?" Zhang Yang asked.

"do not know."

"In fact, I do not know."

Zhang Yang smiled.

I originally wanted to say it, but after thinking about it carefully, I forgot about it.

This thing was originally stored in Prince Zhuang's Mansion. In 1900, Prince Zhuang's Mansion was burned down by a fire.

This celestial sphere vase with red underglaze remains.

But it is estimated that in 1901, the navigation conditions in Britain were not very good, and a piece of the bottom of the thing was knocked off.

Zhang Yang looked at the various cultural relics made by the Qing Dynasty on the list. The sellers were basically from Europe.

He suddenly understood:

Why has Christie’s cultural relics auction qualification been blocked before?

Because the source is not good.

Zhang Yangxin said, look at these old collections from the Qing Dynasty. These are auctions.

This is obviously a return of stolen goods. (End of chapter)