gifted collector

Chapter 9
The night wind blows, blows across the lake and blows into the pavilion, which is quite cool on people's bodies-this is definitely a great enjoyment for summer people.

Everyone looked at Zhao Benhua, but he didn't directly answer Fang Ming's words right away, he didn't directly say the answer that everyone cared about, but said: "What do you know about finger pulling?"

Things like fingers are miscellaneous and small items in the collection. Generally speaking, not many people know or are proficient.

The fingers of the Han people have them, and they are different from those of the Manchus or Mongolians. Generally speaking, the fingers of the Han people are trapezoidal when viewed from the side, that is, one side is higher and the other is lower, while those of the Manchus and Mongolians are generally cylindrical. The pronunciation in Manchu is "Han De Han".

Zhou Yafang nodded and said: "Folding fingers are also called 'banzhi', 'moving fingers', and 'bangzhi'. It was originally a tool worn on the thumb when drawing bows and archery in ancient times. The purpose is to protect the thumb from being injured. Later, it gradually evolved into an ornament. In terms of texture, there are jade, wood, and gold. And Qianlong is the favorite."

The living customs of the Manchu people came from semi-agricultural and semi-nomadic. Although they have changed a lot after entering the customs, they still retain many customs of the past, and finger pulling is one of them.

Since Nurhachi unified Jianzhou and Yehe and established Badong, the emperor of the Eight Banners, he required the Manchu Eight Banners to practice archery in the bow and arrow room under his banner since he was a child. Therefore, all the disciples of the original Eight Banners paid attention to pulling the fingers.

After entering the customs, the Manchu people usually use deer bones to make finger rings. At first, they are yellow, and after a long time, they will turn light brown. Among them, the ones with eyes are the most precious.

Zhao Benhua glanced at Zhou Yafang, he didn't expect that she would say such a celebration, it can be seen that she at least knows about finger pulling, and people who collect antiques now tend to concentrate on porcelain and bronze wares Or on jade wares, things like finger rings are rarely paid attention to.

While playing with the finger wrench in his hand, Zhao Benhua nodded and said: "Many emperors in the Qing Dynasty had a special liking for finger wrench. Miss Zhou, you are right. Qianlong is the person who likes to wrench the finger the most."

Zhao Benhua's words are not just talking nonsense. If you go to the Palace Museum and find paintings such as "Qianlong's Great Reading Force" and "The Picture of Shooting a Deer with Power", you can prove this point.Among them, Qianlong's favorite is the jade finger ring, which can only be seen in the "Imperial Poetry Collection".

In the 17th year of Qianlong, that is, in 1752, Qianlong got a jade wrench, which was warm in texture and exquisite in workmanship. He was very happy and wrote a poem, combining the practical ivory or bone wrench with jade white Compared with the fingers, it is believed that the bone-like fingers are "like bones handed down from ancient times", while the jade fingers are "just like Qiongju" and "virtuous and beautiful". Later, Qianlong even wrote more than 50 poems. Let's praise Yu Razhi, from which we can see how much he likes Yu Razhi.

"Old Zhao, since this is the case, is the jade wrench finger very valuable?"

Zhuang Jie asked curiously. While talking, he glanced at the finger wrench still in Zhao Benhua's hand. He wondered if he wanted to buy it—he knew that this finger wrench must be real, and There is a history, otherwise Zhao Benhua would not have made such a big circle and talked so much nonsense.

"Ah!"

Zhao Benhua shook his head and said, "Fingers are not uncommon, so generally speaking, they are not very valuable, unless they were used by the Emperor Qianlong."

"I remember that in 07, there was a piece of Qing Dynasty mutton fat white jade wrench with an estimated price of 80 yuan, which was finally sold for more than 160 million yuan. The made jade and Tian jade wrench finger and an imperial poem-cut red sandalwood, three fish, plum and sea water pattern cover box were sold for nearly 7 million Hong Kong dollars at Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction, and the buyer is said to be an Asian private collector.”

Qian Fang puts the rabbit in his hand. Although he has a small fortune, he can't do this kind of thing that costs tens of millions to buy an antique-of course, he is extremely envious.

"It's not wrong, so in general, whether the finger is valuable or not depends on three factors. The first is of course its material; the second is whether it is an item for imperial use, and whether there are imperial regulations or imperial poems engraved on it. ; The third depends on whether it is a set, if it is a complete set, then the price will naturally go up."

Zhao Benhua has a deep research on finger pulling, so he is naturally very clear about it.

Grabbing his head, Fang Ming said shyly, "Old Zhao, how much is this finger ring worth?"

Hearing Fang Ming's words, Zhao Benhua laughed and cursed, saying: "Antique collections are not just naked money, but more importantly, the culture and spirit carried on them. Now that you say it like this, it has become vulgar." .”

Fang Ming was a little embarrassed, but he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with his mentality: "Mr. Zhao, you have no worries about food and clothing now. I'm different. I'm still poor, and I have to rely on this I eat with antiques, so I have to be more vulgar."

Zhao Benhua was stunned, and after a long while, he slowly said: "Fang Ming, you are right, that is indeed the case. For people who still have pressure in life, making money is the most important thing. Although antiques are elegant, they are also It can be used to make money.”

Qian Fang on the side burst out laughing "hahaha" when he heard it, pointed at Zhao Benhua and said, "Old man Zhao, I never thought you would be persuaded one day."

What Zhao Benhua talked about the most in recent years was how elegant antiques are. People who collect antiques should not talk about pursuing money. Because of his high status, no one will refute him when he says these things. On the contrary, most of the time, they will follow his words in order to please him.

Today, Fang Ming did not think so much, but directly expressed his thoughts, which made Zhao Benhua feel enlightened. He immediately realized that although his previous thoughts were not wrong, they were too persistent. After all, not everyone agrees. People like myself have already solved the problem of food and clothing - even money is no longer a problem and they can pursue higher-level things.

Glancing at Qian Fang, Zhao Benhua said, "Don't make me sound like a stubborn old man."

After saying this, Zhao Benhua turned to Fang Ming and said, "80 to 120, this is the price of this finger ring. Of course, if you meet someone you like, the price will be even better."

"What? Worth so much money?"

Fang Ming was startled and cried out in disbelief.

"This... Mr. Zhao, is this finger-wrench really worth so much money?"

Not to mention Fang Ming, even Zhou Yafang didn't believe it. The finger in front of her was collected by herself. It cost less than 100 yuan, but now it is worth about 100 million?
Doesn't it mean that this is a big leak?
Therefore, Zhou Yafang was absolutely dumbfounded.

"As I said just now, the most valuable finger rings are from the Qianlong period. They are marked with imperial system, engraved with imperial poems or complete sets. Although this finger ring is inconspicuous, it satisfies two of them condition, so it is not surprising that the value is around 100 million.”

"Carved? Where is it?"

Fang Ming was stunned for a moment. He had seen the wrench countless times before, but he didn't notice where there was a word.

Zhao Benhua handed the finger to Fang Ming, pointed to the magnifying glass at the same time, and said: "There are characters engraved on the inner side of the finger, and the characters are relatively small, so you can't see it without a magnifying glass."

As soon as Fang Ming heard it, he took the finger puller and grabbed the magnifying glass. When he saw it, he found that there was a four-line poem engraved on the back. Fang Ming couldn't help but read it softly:

In the end, it should not be dismissed as the only virtue, and it is not empty talk to wear it without shame.

The inside and outside of the ring are bright and translucent, blending everything in one breath.

"Let me see!"

Zhou Yafang couldn't help it when she heard it, she snatched the magnifying glass and finger puller, and looked carefully.Ten minutes later, she sighed and put down the jade ring finger. She is not a beginner collector of antiques like Fang Ming, and she sees more of the same thing:

First of all, the first character to describe a poem is like a silver hook painted on iron, which looks magnificent. This is definitely not carved by ordinary craftsmen, only Gongyan craftsmen who represent the highest level of craftsmanship can do it; second, This poem is about green jade, which is included in the "Five Collections of Emperor Gaozong's Imperial Poems", which is the keynote of Emperor Qianlong's understanding and evaluation of finger pulling in the future. (This poem is very important to the collection of fingers, so write it here)
I was too careless when I put away this finger ring before, and I didn't even think to use a magnifying glass to look at it-I was also hurt by inertial thinking, thinking that the things collected from the stalls could not have good things, As a result, he was now severely slapped in the face!

"Fang Ming, just give me the wrench."

Zhuang Jie didn't pass it to Zhong Qing after reading it, but held it tightly in his hands.

Zhong Qing was taken aback for a moment, and immediately called out, saying: "Zhuang Jie, you are too shameless for doing this. If you show me something, you will die."

Zhuang Jie gave Zhong Qing a hard look, and said, "Hey, Zhong Qing, we have known each other for many years, will you release this thing after it is in your hands?"

"This one……"

Zhong Qing was speechless for a moment. In fact, he also had the same thought, but he didn't expect to give Zhuang Jie the lead, and finally he only choked out a few words of "shameless"!

After Zhuang Jie heard this, there was no anger on his face. Instead, he continued to say to Fang Ming triumphantly: "You can give me the finger ring brother, as long as you are willing, the price is easy to negotiate."

Fang Ming also recovered from the shock at this time, pointed to Zhou Yafang and said: "The owner of this finger pull is not me, but Sister Afang, this thing is from her shop, so you have to ask her. "

Everyone was stunned. Fang Ming took out the finger just now, and they all thought it belonged to him.

Zhou Yafang smiled wryly, briefly explained the cause of the matter, and finally said: "I checked this thing, and it has been in my shop for several years, but I didn't realize it was a good thing at all. Now this thing was discovered by Fang Ming, so it should belong to him."

Fang Ming immediately shook his head and said, "Sister Avon, this is something from your store, and I'm your employee, so things can't be counted like this."

"No! Just give me 1000 yuan, because this finger is sold at this price in the store."

"It's absolutely impossible. I can't ask for this money."

(End of this chapter)