golden ear

Chapter 195 Wang Jiqian's Old Collection

The two parties completed the transaction the next day, and Wu Tianyuan got four Yuan Dynasty treasures to his heart's content, and earned back more than 3 million yuan in cost.As for the crater, let two people develop it, and leave the rest alone!

"Boss, here are the materials you want. Wang Jiqian's collection caused a lot of controversy after his death, especially his two children."

Wu Tianyuan pouted, that was retribution!

Wang Jiqian, a famous American painter and collector of ancient calligraphy and painting, is proficient in ancient Chinese paintings and has a large collection of national treasures. He is known as one of the six major collectors in the Republic of China.

In his later years, he settled in the United States and sold a large number of paintings to the Metropolitan Museum of America.Later, the Palace Museum intended to acquire the rest of Wang Jiqian's painting collection, but Wang Jiqian's price was too high and he failed to do so. In the end, he sold a large number of national treasures to the Metropolitan Museum of America.

Compared with the noble character of famous collectors such as Zhang Boju and Zhu Jiazhen, although Wang Jiqian has made great achievements in art, his behavior of selling national treasures can not help but be regrettable.

He is a leading figure and a key figure in the field of Chinese painting collectors in the 20th century. His collection not only covers the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but also almost all the famous works of the Song and Yuan Dynasties are concentrated in his hands.

For example, at Christie's auction in New York in 1999, he spent a huge sum of US$143.25 to purchase Song Guoxi's "Autumn Mountain Journey".In his collection, there are quite a few orphans handed down from generation to generation.For example, Wu Zongyuan's "Chaoyuan Immortal Battle Picture" is the only handed down work of Wu Zongyuan, another outstanding religious figure painter after Tang Wu Daozi in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Tragically, Wang Jiqian passed away in 2003 at the age of 96, and since then his two children have been fighting for his estate in probate court in Manhattan.The two children have filed lawsuits in state and federal courts over the past decade, accusing each other of robbery and fraud.

Beyond the family strife, there is a bigger problem that has frustrated Chinese collectors.Court documents show that Wang Jiqian's estate is worth more than $11 million, yet dozens, perhaps hundreds, of works have gone missing, including an [-]th-century scroll, "Chaoyuan Xianzhang Tu," in China Considered a national treasure, its whereabouts are unknown.

Before his death, Wang Jiqian left part of the collection to his daughter Wang Xiange, and the other part to his son Wang Shoukun.Wang Xiange is 79 years old and Wang Shoukun is 85 years old. Both of them had a close relationship with their father at different times and acted as his business agents.

But the two disputed over the inheritance, especially the authenticity of the two wills.One of them was established in 2000, appointing Wang Xiange as the executor of the will; the other was established shortly before Wang Jiqian's death, appointing Wang Shoukun and his son Wang Yiqiang as the executors of the will, and deprived Wang Xiange of his will. right of inheritance.

In this dispute, as to how many ancient Chinese paintings there are in Wang Jiqian's collection after his death, there are great discrepancies in the estimates of various parties, ranging from 240 to 438 pieces.

Since 2003, the two parties have surrendered more than 120 works for sale by estate trustees.But they also accuse each other of hiding much more valuable paintings in the United States, China or elsewhere than that.

There are more than $2000 million in estate taxes to collect, according to a list held by the IRS.The list lists paintings, real estate and other types of possessions Wang Jiqian had at the time of his death, though it is likely that some of the paintings involved in the tax are now missing.

The legal action taken by the two sides this year aims to break the impasse.Wang Xiange and her husband, Kenneth, jointly filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan last month, alleging that Wang Shoukun and his son conspired to falsify art sales records to rob the estate and lie about the whereabouts of the collection.

Wang Xiange's complaint alleges that Wang Yiqiang, Wang Shoukun's 53-year-old son, forged the buyer's address and in one case even shipped $140 million worth of artwork to his home in Shanghai.

There are very few things that the two sides have no objection to, one of which is that one of the most important collections, the silk scroll "Chaoyuan Xianzhang Tu" has disappeared.The image is likely a manuscript for a mural depicting a group of Daoist deities in intricate detail.Experts said that it is a Taoist theme work in the early Northern Song Dynasty, which is very rare.

In 2005, the two parties put "Chao Yuan Xian Zhan Tu" into the safe of a bank in Shanghai.The chest can only be opened again in the presence of both players.

After hearing that someone saw "Chao Yuan Xian Zhan Tu" outside the bank, Wang Xiange asked Wang Yiqiang to go with her to open the safe for verification.According to her, Wang Yiqiang ignored the Chinese court order and refused to be present.

When the safe was opened in 2009, the results were disappointing, Wang Xiange said.The precious original was gone, only a cheap faded scroll print inside.She reported the theft to the Shanghai police, who refused to investigate, saying it was a family matter.Wang Shoukun and Wang Yiqiang said they were not told the box would be opened, suggesting that Wang Xiange somehow stole the scroll.

"A dog bites a dog, a mouthful of hair!"

Wu Tianyuan said disdainfully: "Contact Wang Xiange, it seems that she is having a hard time recently, talk to her."

The three of them flew to Manhattan and found Wang Xiange, who was over 80 years old. The old man was really energetic, and he probably would not die without receiving the inheritance.

"After my investigation, your investment failed due to the financial crisis a few years ago, and all your wealth was wiped out. The only way to stand up is to rely on continuous litigation to obtain Wang Jiqian's old collection."

Wu Tianyuan exposed it unceremoniously: "Now I will give you a chance to buy all calligraphy and paintings privately, as much as you want!"

Wang Xiange and his son nodded. This young man is indeed qualified to say this, but it is still difficult.

Wu Tianyuan said disdainfully: "It seems that you still don't have a deep understanding of your situation. First, the economy is not good now. No one in the United States will pay a big price to buy the Chinese calligraphy and painting in your hands. Are you still waiting for An Siyuan to come back to life?" ?”

"Secondly, these paintings and calligraphy are too controversial. As long as they appear in the United States, they will be sued by the other party and will be caught in endless lawsuits. Are you not tired of these?"

Wu Tianyuan finally sighed and said: "One last thing, I don't comment on your father, but you are also Chinese, and you have to return to your roots after death. You must leave your ancestors' treasures in a foreign country?"

This sentence deeply hurt Wang Xiange. He had turned against his relatives for a few paintings all his life. The whole world was waiting to watch the excitement. He was already over 80. How could he have the face to meet his father and ancestors after death?
Finally, she finally took out the secret calligraphy and painting, which shocked Wu Tianyuan.

"Song Huizong's post-Chibi map!"

"Song Huizong's character hand scroll, ten beautiful pictures!"

"Xie Yuan's Peach Blossom Picture!"

"Song Guoxi's Autumn Mountain Travel Map!"

"There is also a picture of Chaoyuan Fairy from Song Wu Chaoyuan!"

Wu Tianyuan looked at several peerless treasures, especially the last one. The picture of the fairy girl whose whereabouts were rumored to be missing was indeed here!
The two parties signed a sale and purchase contract, and Wu Tianyuan packaged and purchased all of them for US$5000 million, bringing Wang Jiqian's most quintessential collection back to the museum for permanent collection.

(End of this chapter)