Live appraising treasures, I became a national treasure expert?

Chapter 471 Chai kiln azure glaze

It's already mid-October, and the average temperature outside has dropped to around ten degrees, but inside the warehouse it's as warm as early summer.

The inventory work is in full swing and the experts are methodical.

Li Ding'an wore a thin jacket and walked from operation room to operation room with his hands in his coat pockets.

At first glance, he looks like a second-rate guy. How can he look like an expert or scholar?

But no matter which room they entered, the experts would stop and say hello.

Their words were all polite, their expressions were kind, and there was a hint of respect in them.

Although it has not been said publicly, it has become a secret known to everyone here: for these cultural relics, he narrowly escaped death, his life hung on a thread, and he cultivated for two full months...

Therefore, it is difficult not to respect him.

Li Dingan responded cheerfully and asked about the progress. If he encountered a small problem, he would discuss it with the experts.

"Hello, Director Gu!"

Green in color, green in blue, the glaze is as smooth as jade.

Li Ding'an showed a gentle smile on his face and walked over slowly.

I had never known Gu Chunfeng before, let alone had any contact with him, but through my observations these days, I found that Gu Chunfeng was courteous to others and always answered all questions. He also lacked the magnanimity and accomplishments expected of a top scholar.

It’s not surprising that all appraisal experts are like this. The higher their reputation, the better they are at talking about cars and wheels.

After Lin Ziliang came Chen Shucai, who accepted two students: one was Yang Qichang in front of him, who stayed in the Forbidden City without moving. The other was Uncle Chen who had just retired and was recognized by He Anbang and got Ma Xianming from the National Expo.

Looking at this posture, this kid can already take on an old fox like Gu Chunfeng...

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard for him to believe that just one look could contain so many emotions?
Therefore, this person is very powerful. Anyway, if it were him, he would never be able to do what he is now: gnashing his teeth with hatred in his heart, but still treating you with gentle words and gentle smiles...

It has to be said that the more discerning people are, the more sensitive their minds are: Gu Chunfeng always felt that Li Ding'an's words meant something like "You are a dog at your age"?
But looking at his expression, it was different: he was smiling, his tone was neither humble nor arrogant, and his eyes showed a bit of respect for a junior who saw a senior.

Gu Chunfeng nodded: "There are a few things that we feel have some problems, so we would like to ask Teacher Li for advice."

Sure enough: It means both, or maybe none.

After Chen Shucai came Lu Benzhi. Shen Shaoming followed Lu Benzhi when he was in Nanjing. He was not like a student, but more like a student.

Gu Chunfeng smiled: "I'm not sure, so I asked Teacher Li for advice!"

As usual, the experts in the porcelain room stopped and greeted each other warmly. Li Ding'an responded one by one, and his attitude was not too good.

He was transferred to the Cultural Relics Bureau, and Lin Ziliang was airborne.

In this way, he walked from room to room...

At any time, he always behaves like an elder who is highly respected and open-minded.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Gu Chunfeng took him to the long case, where there were more than ten pieces of Ru porcelain. There are various shapes of utensils: bottles, lamps, bowls, and jars.

……

Are they all from the Forbidden City?

"What's the final conclusion?"

He asked casually, "What do you think, Director Gu?"

Yang Qichang shook his head, "Teacher Shen prefers the humidity when entering the furnace and the temperature during sintering. I prefer the oxygen content and degree of oxidation when the glaze crystallizes. Teacher Fan thinks it is caused by the length of sintering..."

The two of them talked and laughed and entered the porcelain room side by side. The atmosphere was really harmonious.

At first glance, there is no difference.

It is quite interesting to think about their origins: Fan Yuan was a student of Gu Chunfeng, and before 2000, Gu Chunfeng was in charge of the porcelain research work in the Forbidden City.

Looking at the real-time monitoring, Director Deng sighed: Bu Liu said there was no need to remind him, Li Ding'an was measured, and he was right.

While thinking about it, Li Ding'an was startled again: Well, Yang Qichang, Shen Shaoming, Fan Yuan?

But Li Ding'an could never forget the look of malice, resentment, jealousy, and greed in Gu Chunfeng's eyes when he saw Ru Ci for the first time that day.

Li Ding'an lowered his head and looked at it carefully: "It seems that there are some differences between these porcelains?"
After looking at it for a while, he straightened up and looked at Gu Chunfeng again: "Is there a color difference?"

"Teacher Li is too modest and has no priority in learning. Is the master the teacher?"

It all seems right, these are the decisive factors for the glaze of porcelain...

Just as he was about to enter the calligraphy and painting room, someone waved at him. He took a closer look: Haha, Gu Chunfeng?

"Teacher Li, wait a moment!"

"Teacher Li has good eyesight, but there is color difference!" Gu Chunfeng gave a thumbs up, "So we are discussing the specific reasons for the color difference."

"Director Gu, that's an exaggeration. You are older than Professor Wu and a senior in the industry. How dare you give me advice?"

"There is no conclusion yet!"

Well, it must have been an illusion just now...

Good guys, there are eight ceramic experts in Long, are you divided into three factions?

"Director Gu, don't say that, I really haven't reached the level of "reaching"..."

So, at first glance, it looks like the students of the three generations of porcelain directors of the Forbidden City are competing for the top?
At the same time, it was explained that Gu Chunfeng did not have a clear judgment for the time being. Regardless of what he was thinking, at least on the surface, he did seem to be asking for advice.

Li Ding'an did not comment, and started looking at all the porcelain on the long table one by one from front to back.

There is indeed color difference, some were quite large before.

"Teacher Yang, have you done the dating?"

"I did it. From the earliest to the latest, the difference is only ten years!"

The Ru kiln only lasted for eighteen years from front to back, and it is normal for the age to be between ten years.

"Have you had fluoroscopy done?"

"We did Yangon, strong light, and daylight in sequence, and the tones were all between 6C8470-67807D."

The former is emerald green, the latter is blue green, and those who are in between are called azure. That is to say, the azure glaze of "After the rain, the sky is clear and the clouds break the virginity, this color is the future".

So, no problem.

"What about the mineral mica type?"

"Bitite, dimicite, and muscovite-type sedimentary rocks."

"structure?"

"A solid piece of pegmatite salt from a magnificent piece of pegmatite."

“Has the initial mineral soil element ratio been derived?”

“有：Al2O3平均含量应该在60%左右，SiO2平均含量为13%，Fe2O3平均含量为4%到5%之间……”

There seems to be no problem. All the data seems to be consistent with the characteristics of Ru kiln porcelain?
If we infer based on this, the causes of color difference are the ones mentioned by deputy team leader Yang Qichang just now: temperature, humidity, oxygen content, and sintering time.

But Li Dingan always felt that he was missing something.

"Teacher Yang, are the relevant data and information here?" "Yes!"

Yang Qichang quickly handed over the folder.

Li Dingan opened it easily.

A lot of experiments were done, and the records were very detailed. In addition to the glass photometry, mineral soil type, structural type, and element proportions that he had asked about before, there were also attached soil types, developed soil types, mineral soil aluminum-enrichment rates, and dehydration. Silicon rate and so on.

After flipping through it, I didn't feel like anything was missing.

He had no idea for the time being. He was about to return the folder when an inconspicuous piece of experimental data came into view:
Number: RC12.

Type: Pen wash.

Sampling site: circle feet.

PH value: 6.9.
No.: RC05.
Type: plum vase.

Sampling part: bottle mouth (note, residual container).

PH value: 7.1.
At first glance, it looks normal. The difference is only 0.2, and the pH is in the same range.

But what is abnormal is that the content of CaO in Meiping's mineral soil is ridiculously high.

This situation is still very common: either to whiten the skin, or to increase strength and plasticity. The ancients often added a large amount of lime when shaping tires.

The problem is, after adding so much lime, the pH of plum bottle is the same as that of pen wash without adding lime?
But it shouldn’t be: the same mineral soil composition, the same crystal structure, the same aluminum-rich rate and desiccant rate, not to mention adding so much lime, even if you add a little bit, the pH will go to both sides. ?
Hmm…pH?

In an instant, a light seemed to flash in his mind, and Li Dingan suddenly realized.

He finally knew what he had missed before: water!
To fire porcelain, in addition to mineral soil and glaze, you also need water, water, water...

It’s no exaggeration at all: the same process, the same mineral soil, and even the kiln entrance is in the same river, but just because one is upstream and the other is downstream, the porcelain produced is better than that of the Moutai Distillery in Renhuai City, Zunyi. The difference between the Moutai produced in Huichuan District is even greater.

For example, the upstream is Ge Kiln, and the downstream is Di Kiln. They are only a dozen miles apart. Except for the water, everything else is exactly the same. The two brothers are even from the same mother. You can do what I can do, but the things that are burned: a heaven. , an underground...

Li Ding'an also understood why there was a color difference between the pen wash and the plum vase.

Because these two things are not fired from the same kiln at all: the distance between the two kilns is more than 100 kilometers, and the quality of the water used for washing mud and shaping tires is higher than that of the water upstream of the same river. The difference from the downstream water is even greater.

But the emperor asked: I care so much about you? Anyway, if you cannot burn them to a uniform color, they will all be beheaded.

What should I do?
We can only try the same thing, or use cosmetic clay, or prepare different glaze formulas, or raise or lower the furnace temperature, otherwise we will burn for half a day longer or half a day less...

After constant trying and endless tossing, I finally got it working: When washing mud, add lime to the water.

From a modern perspective, it is actually the different pH of the water that causes the different colors of the porcelain. Lime was then added to bring the PH values ​​between the two closer, and the burned colors would naturally be similar.

The problem is, that was in ancient times...

Li Ding'an breathed a long sigh of relief, put down the folder, and pointed at the plum vase and pen washer:
"Please ask the relevant agencies to test and analyze: the formation time of the rock formations present in the mineral strata, and also conduct a test of the attached soil..."

The existence of mineral seams... what is this?
The experts all widened their eyes.

Fortunately, they at least knew what Li Ding'an was talking about: analysis of soil components other than bauxite to distinguish the differences between different mineral soils.

This means: Aren’t the brush washers and the plum vase fired from the same kiln?

Put another way: During the Song Dynasty, besides Ru kilns, were there other kilns in the Song Dynasty that were firing Ru porcelain?
Thinking of this, one by one, plus Gu Chunfeng, there was one voice in his head: buzz buzz buzz buzz...

How can it be……

An expert from behind raised his hand and forced a smile: "Teacher Li, why do you still need to measure the composition of the attached soil?"

Li Dingan smiled and said, "Teacher Fang, haven't you already thought of it?"

Yes, that's what he meant.

All the experts and experts felt their hearts pounding.

Gu Chunfeng stared at him and stretched out two fingers: "Two Ru kilns?"

You really dare to think...

Li Ding'an hesitated for a moment: "In a broad sense, it can be said that, but in terms of region, it cannot be regarded as Ru porcelain. It can only be called 'celestial glaze'."

Sky blue glaze is Ru kiln, Ru kiln is sky blue glaze...what's the difference.

But when it comes to Li Ding'an's mouth, there is a difference?

"Does this mean that during the Song Dynasty, other kilns could produce the same azure-glazed porcelain as your porcelain?"

Li Ding'an nodded: "Yes!"

Right to what? Right?
Gu Chunfeng turned his head, and the remaining experts were even more confused than him. I mean, no one has heard of it...

He took a deep breath: "Where?"

"Several places!" Li Ding'an pointed to the plum vase, "But this one should be from Zhengzhou!"

Isn’t this nonsense?
The reason why Ru Kiln is called Ru Kiln is because it was built in Ruzhou. Why did another one pop up from Zhengzhou?
The two places are more than a hundred kilometers apart...

"Teachers should all know: "Tanzhai Biheng" written by Ye Zhi of the Song Dynasty: (Huizong of the Song Dynasty) ordered the production of green kiln wares, so Hebei, Tang, Deng, Yao, and Fuzhou all had them. Ru kiln was the leader, and it was called Tian green……"

"Yes, only Ru kiln has azure glaze!"

""Tanzhai Biheng" records that this is indeed the case, but there is also..."

Li Ding'an paused for a moment, "Ouyang Xiu's "Guitian Collection": Burning is prohibited in the Ru Kiln Palace. There is agate powder inside for oil (glaze). It is only for the emperor to sort out and sell it. It is especially rare in recent times...

It also records: The previous Ru kilns only fired celadon, but only egg white, emerald green, bean green, pink green, and shrimp green... But as Ouyang Xiu recorded, when Shenzong arrived, it was banned... The reason was that agate was used as the porcelain. Glaze, too luxurious...

"Ouyang Xiu's "Guitian Collection" mentioned a sentence when recording Ru kiln flower goblets: Chai's kiln is as green as the sky, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, and as loud as exhaustion. It is rare in the world - "

Gu Chunfeng's expression changed: Chai kiln?

Yang Qichang pursed his lips: "Old Shen, what does Teacher Li mean?"

"You obviously understood and you asked me?"

Of course Yang Qichang understood, but he just couldn't believe it: Ru kiln was inherited from Chai kiln, and before the Northern Song Dynasty, there was azure glaze...

And the Chai Kiln happened to be in Fuzhou in ancient times and Zhengzhou now?

The question is, why is what Li Dingan said different from what he saw?
Regarding the "Guitian Collection", he has indeed seen the sentence "It is forbidden to burn in Ru Kiln Palace, and there is agate powder used as oil (glaze)". But the next sentence, "As blue as the sky, as bright as a mirror, and as thin as paper", he tried to break his head but couldn't remember...

"Because the existing ones are incomplete!"

"I know, the current fragmentary copy of "Guitian Collection"..." Fan Yuan was stunned for a moment: "Mr. Li has seen the complete copy?"

Li Dingan fell silent.

He had really seen it, in a cave: the complete set of "Guitian Collection".

The problem is that the cultural relics such as calligraphy and painting have been inventoried, but many of them seem to have not been shipped back, including this one.

"Don't worry, you should be able to see it in two days."

The experts suddenly understood: there is a complete copy of "Guitian Collection", and it was with these Ruci before.

Li Ding'an had seen it, so he dared to say that it was Chai Kiln Azure Glaze...

(End of this chapter)