Play treasure master

Chapter 621 Appreciating Ink
"When I saw Luo Xiaohua, I felt a little emotional." Yu Yao couldn't help sighing while looking closely.

In fact, celebrities in history can easily be taken out of a certain aspect and be profiled.In fact, talent and character in a certain aspect cannot be generalized.

It is normal for a person to have many faces.Still taking the Ming Dynasty as an example, Hai Rui, an upright official, actually had no talents and accomplishments, no achievements worth mentioning, but he was not greedy.For example, Qi Jiguang, a famous anti-Japanese general, is a little bit good at collecting money, and he donates a lot to the top, but he does this to better fight against the Japanese.

Shen Zhongyuan looked at Yu Yao solemnly, "Why do I think that you don't like it very much!"

"Yes." Yu Yao didn't hide anything in front of them, "Regardless of Luo Xiaohua's character and other aspects, his ink-making level is definitely first-rate..."

When Shen Ge heard it, he couldn't help but moved to Yu Yao's side, "My grandfather and my father have researched it, but they didn't find any problems, you can see it..."

Shen Zhongyuan waved his hand, "We two together, the vision is not as good as Yu Yao's."

Shen Ge's father frowned slightly after hearing this.Although he admired Yu Yao's eyesight, the words of Shen Zhongyuan still made him a little uncomfortable.

However, his brows quickly relaxed, "This piece of Jiuxi Xuanxiang, it seems that it can't reach Luo Xiaohua's level?"

"This is a piece of tung smoke ink, but first of all the luster is not enough." Yu Yao said.

"The sense of light is not bad..." Father Shen pondered.

There are roughly four types of ink making in ancient times: pine smoke, tung smoke, lacquer smoke, and lampblack.Among them, pine smoke ink and Tong smoke ink are the most used in calligraphy and painting.

There are three biggest differences between pine smoke ink and tung smoke ink: Tong smoke ink is heavier than pine smoke ink, has a strong gloss, and is not easy to stain hands.

This is because although Tongyan and Songyan have similar names, Songyanmo really uses pine smoke, while Tongyanmo actually uses soot, because it needs to be mixed with tung oil, so it is called Tongyanmo.

Pine smoke ink is mostly used in calligraphy, but less in painting.Tongyan ink is more widespread. During Luo Xiaohua's period, Tongyan ink was regarded as the mainstream.

Shen Zhongyuan asked again at this time, "Do you think you can reach Ming?"

"Because I can't go to the Ming Dynasty, there is a problem of luster." Yu Yao habitually touched the cigarette, but thought that it was in someone's study, but held back.

Father Shen saw it, laughed, and immediately took out a cigarette, "Smoking one."

Shen Ge pouted, "You guys chat first, I'll go see if my mother needs help, and I'll hear the result later."

After Shen Ge left, the three men, old, middle-aged and young, all lit cigarettes. Father Shen said with a smile, "I'm an old smoker, and Xiao Ge really annoys me when I smoke. You'll have to take care of it from now on!"

Yu Yao was noncommittal, and then pointed, "I'll just say it straight. I feel that this is an imitation from the period of the Republic of China. From the raw materials to the craftsmanship, it is very good, but because it is old, it has lost a little luster. The problem."

Shen's father and son looked at each other without speaking.

Yu Yao continued, "If it was the old ink from the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it would not be so dull in its luster when it is passed down to this day. It is difficult to master this aspect of making old ink, and it requires a high level of skill. This one is the work of a master. But I feel that it is still a little bit less interesting.”

When Yu Yao spoke, they were also listening and examining carefully.

"This point allows me to take a good look at it in the sun during the day. But you said just now, first of all, the luster is not enough, is there anything else?" Father Shen asked again.

"Yes. Secondly, Luo Xiaohua's ink making, in addition to the texture and craftsmanship, also pays attention to exquisiteness. Even if it is a very common system, he may make something that is unusual in ordinary times, and it is by no means a vain reputation."

As soon as Yu Yao finished speaking, Shen Zhongyuan nodded and said, "Yes, when I was exhibiting in the Forbidden City in the early years, when I saw that piece of 'half walnut', I couldn't help being amazed on the spot."

Half Walnut Ink, one of Luo Xiaohua's classic works handed down from generation to generation, is now collected in the Palace Museum.

The shape of the ink ingot is a half-cut walnut. The texture of the shell is not only like the natural texture of the walnut, but also like auspicious clouds; and the inscriptions inside the walnut are also very particular.On one side: the diary of Ding You in Jiashen month in the year of Gengzi; on the other side: the Queen Mother of the West bestows the Han Wutao Xuanhe Hall; in the middle, there is the word "Xiaohua".

Yu Yao interfaced, "Yes. Look at this side of Jiuxi Xuanxiang again. On the side with the inscription, the four characters 'Jiuxi Xuanxiang' are in Luo Xiaohua's usual official script, and the bottom part is Xingkai. The overall layout is quite delicate. However, the landscape decoration on the back is a bit mediocre."

As Yu Yao said, he stretched out his hand and tapped a place, "The key is here! It's been repaired! If it was Luo Xiaohua, it would be done in one go!"

"Fixed?" Father Shen was taken aback.

"Ink is different from other carvings. After being molded, dried and molded, and repaired again, there must be traces and light feeling similar to metal; of course, if it is old ink, it must not be visible now. But this piece of ink needs to be done. It's old, so there are some clues."

"Sure enough!" After examining for a long time, Shen Zhongyuan let out a long sigh.

Father Shen was half a beat late, but at the end he looked at Yu Yao stroking his palm, "Yu Yao, you have amazing eyes! Your eyes, like Clayderman's fingers, should be insured with a huge sum of money!"

Yu Yao couldn't laugh or cry.

Zhong Zhongyuan laughed, "You, you have never liked convincing people since you were a child. When I saw you today, I am really convinced!"

"Convincing is convincing, but I, Fang Mo, have lost a lot!" Father Shen sighed, then stood up, "There is another piece from the Jiajing Dynasty, you can also look at it!"

Yu Yao heard it, "Uncle, you have a special liking for Gu Mo!"

"No way, I only have a few pieces, and this one was identified as a high imitation by you."

What Father Shen took out again was a piece of vermilion ink ingot, and it was in the shape of a budding magnolia flower.

"Magnolia cinnabar ink?" Yu Yao glanced up, "This piece will reach Ming Dynasty, there is no doubt about Jiajing."

Surprise flashed again in Shen's father's eyes, "Just a few glances, is the conclusion?"

"The cinnabar ink of the Ming Dynasty is best in the Chenghua and Jiajing dynasties, with distinctive characteristics. This piece of magnolia cinnabar ink is obviously not from the Chenghua Dynasty. Moreover, if it is a high-quality imitation, it is difficult to achieve this gluey feeling! At the same time, From the perspective of shape and craftsmanship, it is also the style of the Jiajing Dynasty."

Cinnabar ink is naturally used for writing red characters, and the main component is naturally cinnabar.To make cinnabar ink in the Ming Dynasty, in addition to cinnabar and other raw materials, the glue was boiled with Qinpi and soaked in clean water for seven days and seven nights.

Qinpi is the bark of the white wax tree, which is a traditional Chinese medicine. Using Qinpi to boil the glue is better than the general way of boiling glue.On the unused old ink sticks, after years, the glue feeling is also one of the key points of identification.

Father Shen couldn't help nodding and smiling after hearing this.

Zhong Zhongyuan tapped his fingers twice, "I'll just say, there is no antique that Yu Yao can't identify!"

(End of this chapter)