Live appraising treasures, I became a national treasure expert?

Li Dingan waved his sleeves, not taking away a cloud.

Experts gathered around the long case and discussed it intensively.

What they discussed was not the difference between Ru porcelain and Chai kiln azure glaze, because this statement has been around since ancient times, and it has been proven that Ru porcelain was inherited from Chai kiln.

What is strange to them is that in order to determine the origin of a piece of porcelain, in addition to analyzing the clay, glaze, craftsmanship, and shape, it is also possible to analyze the water quality during molding?

How can we analyze it after it has been left alone for thousands of years?

All the experts present also knew that the lime content of Meiping was higher than that of pen washer, but everyone believed that this was to increase the plasticity and strength of the porcelain body.

But no one has ever thought that lime is added to balance the difference in pH caused by different water qualities.

Including Gu Chunfeng.

Do you feel like the gap is suddenly widened?
Of course, it was just Li Ding'an's unilateral statement that needed to be tested, but the moment he said "analyze the rock strata existing in the mineral strata", Gu Chunfeng knew that there was no need to test.

You don’t need to know geology to study antiques, even if it is occasionally used, just a superficial understanding is enough. Gu Chunfeng didn't understand it at first, but since he was humiliated to pieces by Lin Ziliang, he learned his shame and became brave...

To put it bluntly, the so-called mineral host rock formation is the stratum below after the mineral soil has been dug out.

Since the Tang Dynasty, porcelain craftsmen have known that the older the porcelain clay and the deeper the porcelain ore, the higher the quality of the porcelain clay. So when mining, the requirement is just one word: deep.

The part brought out by digging through the china clay mineral layer is called attached soil...

I want to ask if there is any difference?
Yes, and the difference is huge:

Ruzhou and Zhengzhou are only a little over 100 kilometers apart. China clay belongs to the same type of vein, but Ruzhou is located on the Cambrian limestone erosion surface, endowed with diaspore-type sedimentary bauxite of the Carboniferous Benxi Formation.

In Zhengzhou, bauxite is exposed on the Ordovician carbonate rock erosion surface endowed with aluminum-bearing clay mineral layers (body) of the Benxi Formation of the Upper Carboniferous System.

This is a professional explanation, which is not only convoluted but also obscure, but you only need to know that the porcelain clay deposit in Ruzhou is 100 million years older than that in Zhengzhou. The rock layer in Ruzhou is limestone, while that in Zhengzhou is carbonate rock...

To put it more bluntly: there is a fundamental difference in the composition of the soil attached to the two types of porcelain. You can tell with just one test...

Therefore, Gu Chunfeng felt like a beeping dog:
Damn it, why didn't you think of it?

Why did Li Ding'an know such rare and unpopular knowledge?
In fact, this is nothing, after all, 99.99% of porcelain experts don't understand.

But what about pH differences caused by water quality?
He knew, and other experts also knew: the porcelain body of the plum vase was mixed with lime, and they also knew that the porcelain body with lime was naturally whiter than the one without lime.

When it is reflected on the glaze, the color is of course lighter, resulting in color difference... But they have never been able to find the reason why lime is added when molding the tire.

I can only think that it is for the convenience of shaping.

The results turned out to be incompatible, so Gu Chunfeng wanted to give himself a slap: It was like there was just a layer of window paper between them, but it was Li Ding'an who helped them pierce it?

The most important thing is that he personally called Li Ding'an here?

I don't know if it's a psychological effect: he always felt that there was something a little strange in the way the experts looked at him now.

Whenever he spoke in a slightly lower voice, he would wonder if these bastards were talking about him?

The more Gu Chunfeng thought about it, the angrier he became...

……

"Did you go to the china room just now?"

"Oh, Director Gu called me over and had a little discussion."

"in argument?"

"No? The atmosphere is very harmonious and the teachers are very positive!"

Chengjie looked suspicious: "Then why does Gu Chunfeng have such a dark face?"

Li Ding'an shook his head: "I don't know!"

Of course he knew.

But to be honest: he really didn't want to have too many interactions with Gu Chunfeng, at least until he figured out this person's specific position and the reason why he was assigned to the expert group.

The same goes for Gu Chunfeng: He feels that Li Ding'an is a replica of Lin Ziliang, and he has suffered so many losses at the hands of Lin Ziliang, so subconsciously, there is a strong sense of rejection and hint: Stay away from this kid in the future. point.

This time, it was just because he was the leader of the so-called "porcelain group" on a temporary basis and he was too lazy to offend or argue with others, so he left the problem to Li Ding'an.

It was a purely unintentional move, done casually, but unexpectedly, a slap fell from the sky?

Then, it became like this...

Chengjie was dubious, and Li Ding'an couldn't explain it. The two of them entered the bronze room with their own concerns.

There are not many bronzes, just eight pieces: a halogen bell, two bottles, a bottle of brim, a bottle of basin, a bottle of Dun, and two bottles of large plates.

It is clear at a glance that there is nothing to be counted. However, the same type of artifacts from the same period are available in the National Museum and the Forbidden City. They are all clearly studied, and there is nothing to study.

Therefore, there are only three people in the bronze group: Director Zhu and an associate researcher from the National Museum, and a librarian from the First Museum, whose main job is restoration.

Repaired two bottles that were damaged by falling rocks when the cave collapsed.

Seeing them entering the door, Director Zhu said hello and waved to Li Ding'an: "Teacher Li, come and see!"

Li Ding'an walked over and took a look: the upper part of the pot, which looked like a pot, had a hole in the side.

It's about the size of a fist and quite deep. The deepest part is three centimeters deep.

This is normal: the top of the cave is so high, the force of the stone falling through the cave will not be small. This thing has not been smashed out of the hole, which means it is very strong.

What was abnormal was that there were actually many layers of rust in the concave pit, and each layer was a different color.

First there was a layer of gray rust, very thin and bright, with a faint coppery glow.

Most copperware that has been soaked in sand for a long time and is extremely dry has this characteristic: the quartz sand in the sand will react with copper and tin, but because it is very dry, the reaction speed is extremely slow, so the rust is very thin and reflective.

Very few physical objects have been unearthed. So far, only a few bronze spears have been discovered in Ordos.

The second layer is black skin, which is the so-called black skin. It is formed by being exposed to a dry environment for a long time.

The third layer is jujube red skin, which is also very bright. This is the black paint composed of copper oxide reacting with the hot air to generate cuprous oxide.

The fourth layer, like stainless steel?
This is the so-called "mercury light" produced when bronze vessels are buried in neutral soil for a long time and tin precipitates onto the surface of the vessels, also known as mercury Qin.

Therefore, based on this layer of rust, we can infer the previous burial range of this beast: only in the north and close to the Yellow River Basin can there be long-term and stable neutral soil.

Seeing this, it was considered that it successfully aroused Li Ding'an's curiosity.

It's not like he has never seen copperware with various rust colors and "colorful" objects. There are many in the National Museum. But that's because the diversity of soil components reacts differently with copperware.

To put it bluntly: there is no layering, everything is concentrated on the surface. I have seen copperware with layered rust and different colors on each layer, and there are many in Shaanxi Expo.

That's because the excavation technology at that time was limited and was not properly handled. The chlorine salts deposited on the surface or inside the deposits oxidized with the air, forming extremely destructive cuprous chloride, which gradually corroded the copperware, commonly known as pitting goods.

But the maximum is three layers. If it exceeds three layers, no matter how thick the copper is, it will only be corroded into a pile of slag.

So, this is the first time he has seen a copper vessel with more than three layers of rust. The vessel is still so intact and the boundaries are so clear?
The key thing is that it is not chloride. It can be seen that these layers of paint are rusted in stages over time.

Strange...

After thinking about it, he looked at the fifth floor again. Suddenly, Li Ding'an's eyes widened.

Purple or purple, gold or gold, isn’t this purple gold?
Purple rust is rare, but Li Ding'an has seen it before: black black lacquer and red cuprous oxide are produced on the surface of copperware at the same time, and the connection between the two kinds of rust is purple.

Gold rust is rarer, but he has also seen it: orange-yellow lead yellow neutralized by red cuprous oxide.

But was this really the first time he saw purple-gold rust?

The key point is that it is not the connection between rust and rust, it is just like a whole layer. And it's so close to the copper itself that it doesn't feel like natural rust, but like...a whole layer of paint?
Li Ding'an looked at it for a long time, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt that this layer was more like baked on it: "Director Zhu, have you done any analysis on this layer of purple gold rust?"

"It's done. The main ingredients are lead-tin yellow and copper oxide, with a small amount of cuprous oxide."

Golden, red, black... According to the color spectrum, purple gold can indeed be produced. But there is golden lead and tin inside...Li Ding'an always feels like something is wrong?
The earliest records of this thing date back to the Yuan Dynasty, when European artists, in pursuit of "pure yellow", used lead compounds and other metal compounds to prepare it. It later became one of the main pigments in Western oil paintings.

It was introduced to China during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and was used as the main raw material for enamel.

There are also naturally occurring ones, which are quite early, but very rare: so far, this thing has been found on a few bronzes unearthed in Sanxingdui, but they all coexist with other components of patina...

Well, Sanxingdui, coexistence?

Li Ding'an finally realized something was wrong: the yellow lead and tin in Sanxingdui were naturally generated, but the ones above were artificially made.

The problem is, this one is from the Shang Dynasty...the Shang and Zhou Dynasties!
He took a deep breath and said, "Director Zhu, it's best to do further testing to see if the main components of copper-tin yellow are lead stannate and lead silicon stannate?"

"Ah?" Director Zhu was stunned. "The equipment here is limited, so we probably won't be able to do it. We won't be able to do another one..."

"Li Ding'an, can you do it?"

After receiving a positive answer, Cheng Jie made the final decision: "Then adjust the equipment. If it cannot be adjusted, contact the relevant agencies... Li Ding'an, where can I do it?"

"Sichuan Museum, or the Forbidden City!"

"Only these two?"

"Correct!"

After thinking for a moment, Director Zhu suddenly realized: "Is this thing related to Sanxingdui?"

"It's unlikely!"

"Where did the lead stannate and lead silicostannate come from?"

Li Dingan fell silent.

Suddenly, Director Zhu's mind opened up: Were these things dug out by the Yuan army from the Sanxingdui site?

But the relationship is too big, Li Dingan dare not say...

Chengjie was also stunned: Are you kidding me?
Whether it is internal consensus or external propaganda: In 1929, a Guanghan farmer named Yan renovated his old house and discovered Han jade... In 1933, Ge Weihan, the Harvard-Yenching Institute and the then director of the West China Museum, and others inspected and excavated here...

At this point, the Yueliang Bay site was officially discovered on behalf of the historical and archaeological circles, and it was renamed Sanxingdui after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The result was good, Li Ding'an came to the Yuan Dynasty?
"But there is no record in any historical materials?"

That's why I say it's unlikely.

But it's just small, but not impossible. Just like the Feng Shui arrays in Qinglong Mountain and Hunshan Ancient City, as well as the cave. Similarly, there is no record in any historical materials, so why are so many cultural relics unearthed?

Li Ding'an was noncommittal: "Do it first, and then look at it after analyzing it."

Director Zhu didn't react for a long time. Chengjie took out his mobile phone as if he had a toothache.

Li Ding'an looked at the copperware again and resisted the urge to peel off all the first four layers of patina to find out.

After Chengjie finished making the phone call and contacting the Forbidden City, the two of them left the bronze room together.

As soon as he stepped out the door, Cheng Jie grabbed Li Ding'an's arm, his voice filled with horror: "Really dug it from Sanxingdui?"

"Probably not!"

"Don't estimate. If you want to be really sure, give me reassurance as soon as possible!"

Li Ding'an didn't speak, and Cheng Jie didn't blink.

The two were in a stalemate for a long time, and Li Ding'an sighed: "No!"

Cheng Jie took a deep breath: How famous is Sanxingdui?

Not only was it a national sensation, it also attracted great attention from overseas. As a result, it was a slap in the face?
What is this, a disgrace being dumped abroad?
Fortunately, it's not...

Seeing his twisted face, Li Ding'an looked around and smiled: "Director, let me tell you something happy!"

Chengjie expressed doubts.

"I'm not going to lie to you: that thing is probably man-made and has reached the level of alloy!"

"You mean that Zun Ge?" Cheng Jie subconsciously raised his head with a strange look in his eyes: "Bronze, isn't it just an alloy?"

Everyone knows it, why do you need to be so secretive?
"No... I'm talking about the layer of rust, which is lead and tin yellow... Actually, it's not rust, but an anti-rust layer. It was brushed on manually and baked at high temperature to form an alloy film... "

What the hell?
Director Cheng did not react for a moment.

"It is generally accepted in the chemical community that lead-tin yellow was mixed by the Italian painter Giotto around 1300. However, it was a synthetic powdered pigment at that time. Tin is tin and lead is lead... The actual formation of alloys was already in the last century. s:

Because this material has an extremely low melting point, just a little over 100 degrees Celsius, and has strong ductility, it is used to weld and manufacture some high-precision parts..."

This time, Chengjie finally understood: "Is that layer of rust an alloy?"

Li Dingan nodded: "Very likely!"

After dating tests, it was found that the object was from the early Zhou Dynasty, around 1,000 BC, and the paint could only have been applied at that time.

If we do the math again, from the 1980s to 1,000 BC... wouldn't it mean that the Chinese's history of artificially manufacturing lead-tin yellow alloy was a full three thousand years earlier than that of the United States and the West?
Chengjie was stunned and looked at Li Ding'an intently.

What time does it take to overthrow Sanxingdui?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this sentence was more like a joke... (End of Chapter)