golden ear

Chapter 236 Against Meiyintang

"You want to buy Fangshanju?"

William looked at Wu Tianyuan in surprise, and sighed for a while: "It's true that the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and we are really older than you!"

"I heard that the largest stake in Fangshanju is in the David Foundation?"

"That's right. The Fangshanju Museum and the brand have been in David's hands for more than 30 years. Some auctions are held regularly every year. The quantity is not large, but the quality is very high, creating a lot of sky-high prices."

This museum collects the collections of the British scholar Sir David.Sir David loved Chinese art during his lifetime, and he began to collect Chinese art treasures in the early 20th century.

According to the statistics of Wang Qingzheng, director of the Shanghai Museum, in 1987 and 1991, there are only about 89 pieces of Ru kiln celadon in the world, of which only the Taipei Forbidden City, BJ Forbidden City, Shanghai Museum and David Foundation can be called systematic collection institutions.

For example, the Ru kiln celadon-glazed bowl has five small sesame-shaped nail marks on the outer bottom, and the inner bottom is engraved with regular script Qianlong imperial poems. David has one, and the BJ Palace Museum also has one.

The most famous is the David Vase, which was produced in 1351 and is the earliest known blue-and-white porcelain ware with an exact date in the world. It is regarded as the standard vessel for blue-and-white research in the Yuan Dynasty, and was jointly selected by the BBC and the British Museum as a representative of the world. One of the 100 objects of history.

Tang Hangan’s White Picture at Night, which is the treasure of the Metropolitan Museum of America today, and Ming Yongle’s red double-phoenix lotus vase holder, which set a world lacquer auction record at Christie’s auction house in December 2008, are also from him. favorites.

David was born in a wealthy Jewish family in Bombay, India, a colony of the British Empire. His father, Sir Sassen, was a well-known local banker and the founder of the Bank of India.

After the Qing government was overthrown in 1911, a large number of cultural relics collected by the Qing palace were scattered from the palace to the society through various channels such as Pu Yi, Pu Jie, and eunuchs.The last emperor, Pu Yi, was expelled from the Forbidden City. Once he arrived in China, he closely linked his activities with the Forbidden City.

"I heard that you used to be a shareholder of Meiyintang?"

A flash of anger flashed across William's face, and he said disdainfully, "What a Meiyintang, it's made of copper by Ullens and Lewis!"

He saw that Wu Tianyuan was curious, and recalled: "I had the opportunity to become a shareholder of Meiyintang, which was painstakingly managed by the Yu brothers. It started off very well, mainly out of personal preference. Both the collection and communication were very clean. Later, this hall name was taken over by You Lance took a fancy to it, and used a lot of shady means to own the largest share and become the decision maker!"

"In the end, I was the only one who insisted on the original idea. After several conflicts, he couldn't help me. Later, he found Lewis from Jiashide. The two of them worked hand in hand and dealt with me several times. In the end, I couldn't bear it and had to let go."

William walked to the window and said sadly: "Poor over 1000 pieces of high-quality porcelain left over. Although I took away more than 500 pieces, they still kept most of them. The main thing is the Meiyintang brand, a century-old brand. You didn't find it. In the past two years, we have been to special events frequently? But the quality is getting worse and worse, and the price is getting higher and higher. Every time we set a new record for the transaction, there are two ghosts behind it!"

Wu Tianyuan stood up, walked to the window, pondered for a while and said, "So we have to stop them even more. If this continues, the market will be chaotic, and more collectors will lose their reference and become their lambs to be slaughtered."

William stared at Wu Tianyuan and confirmed, "What's your plan?"

"I found out that you have a deep relationship with David. This matter can only be resolved if you come forward. Fangshanju is also a century-old brand and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. I don't have any ambitions. I just want to establish a point of reference. At least let Tibet Do you know what a good thing is? What is so good about a good thing? Why is it so expensive?"

"It's that simple?"

Wu Tianyuan looked straight at William and said seriously: "It's that simple!"

William nodded and smiled: "I can ask for you, but there is no guarantee of success, you wait for my news. Moreover, the current Fangshanju is just an empty shell, and the generations of descendants have ruined their fortunes cleanly. Even if the acquisition is successful There will be no good things, you have to be mentally prepared."

"Hey, the two of you whispered when you met, come and drink tea!"

The two of them laughed loudly when they heard Annie's dissatisfied complaints, and returned to the table. Annie rolled her eyes and asked intentionally, "You said last time that you had a chance to hype me up, is it true?"

Wu Tianyuan was taken aback, looked at William's surprised look, and explained: "I have this idea! I have a few friends around me who like to collect. I have chosen the works of five modern and contemporary artists and want to recommend them to the world."

Wu Tianyuan briefly talked about the plan, William is a big expert, he has collections of Lin Fengmian and Luo Zhongli, and Shiraga Kazuo has met a few times, only two rookies Zhang Yunfei and Luo Meng are not familiar with.

"I have long said that Lin Fengmian's level is far underestimated by the market! His appeal is not inferior to that of Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi, but it is a pity that he has been lukewarm and lacks publicity."

"There are many such painters, such as Shi Lu of the Chang'an School of Painting. His paintings have always been very cheap. An Siyuan discovered its huge potential the first time he saw it, and stocked up a lot. Now the market has proved that the return rate is amazing. And this It’s just the beginning, and it’s going to increase by at least 30.00% every year!”

Wu Tianyuan said this very conservatively, because he found out that Dongsheng would still secretly collect Shi Lu and Guan Shanyue through various channels, and Chen Dongsheng and Ullens would definitely start with them.This kind of underestimated painter has the most potential, is of a high level, and is contagious, and can be multiplied several times, or even dozens of times, with just a stir.

Wu Tianyuan looked at Annie, who looked expectant, and said with a smile: "This little girl's paintings are also very spiritual. It's rare that I also like art. If there is a chance, I can publicize it more. Maybe I will be the next master!"

"That's right, Dad, did you hear that? Even outsiders have confidence in me, but you beat me all day long!"

William looked at Anne dotingly, and said helplessly: "I asked you to learn painting at the beginning, just to cultivate your body and mind, but it turned out to be more and more wild! Artists are very hard. Do you want to go this way?"

Annie said with a serious face: "Yes, I want to become a real artist, no matter how hard it is!"

It was the first time William saw his cynical daughter's determination. He nodded and said, "Then I can help you once and let the market see if you are the material? Five years, if you don't succeed after five years, you must give up and inherit the family well." Business!"

"No problem, five years is five years!"

Annie kissed William excitedly, then pulled Wu Tianyuan and said, "Even my father agrees, you must help me!"

Wu Tianyuan gave a wry smile, and said helplessly: "Okay, but I can only help you recommend works through channels, as for whether others will approve or not, I don't guarantee it!"

The three were chatting and laughing. The next day, Annie took Wu Tianyuan to visit Geneva. It really was a paradise on earth. Wu Tianyuan planned to buy a villa, and he would come for regular vacations every year.

Three days later, he returned to the capital, and this time he gained a lot. Through Anne's relationship, he made friends with William, a senior banker, and an expert in capital, and they will cooperate with Ullens in the future.

Ever since Chen Dongsheng met last time, Wu Tianyuan has always had the feeling that Taotie is not as simple as it seems on the surface. Chen Dongsheng himself admitted that he is only number two, and there is someone else behind him!
Could it be Ullens?Or Lewis?

Wu Tianyuan guessed, it's not like, they are more like a cooperative relationship, the person who can make the proud Chen Dongsheng follow suit is definitely not easy!
After seeing the style of several hermit families, they prefer to keep a low profile and manipulate everything behind the scenes. The people in front of the stage are all chess pieces, and they are the ones who really play chess.

Wu Tianyuan suddenly felt a sense of crisis. Now that he has entered the eyes of many people, he is no longer just making trouble, and even touching some other people's interests.This feeling is very bad. It seems that I want to become stronger faster, at least to be able to protect myself, and have enough strength to shock the enemy.

Today Wu Tianyuan was sorting out the exhibition halls in the museum, when he suddenly received a call from Mr. Geng, saying that he would come over later to talk about some business.

"The Forbidden City is here to discuss business?"

Wu Tianyuan was curious, did they want to exchange something with him?Domestic museums have various restrictions. Unlike foreign openings, many cultural relics are filed with the Cultural Relics Bureau, and the procedures are very complicated.

"This is Lao Yang from the Rare Books Department. They are the ones who are going to meet you today."

Elder Geng introduced a fat old man in his early sixties to Wu Tianyuan, the two exchanged a few words and went to the office to chat.

"This is the Ming version of Linlang's secret book and Xiaoxiang's boutique. It was exchanged by the Japanese National Institute. Take a look."

Wu Tianyuan asked his subordinates to bring over the two sets of orphans for Lao Yang and the others to visit. Lao Yang was excited, and after watching for more than half an hour, he finally calmed down.

"Director Wu, we've heard about your deeds, it's really exciting!"

Lao Yang flattered: "We have been wanting to borrow two sets of ancient books from Guoli for many years, but Little Japan disagreed with life and death. I didn't expect to see them in China today. I am really happy."

Wu Tianyuan saw Elder Geng's furtive wink and said with a smile: "Everything should be done, what is Elder Yang coming this time?"

Lao Yang straightened his body and said seriously: "I heard that Tianyuan Museum has several sets of Qingming Riverside Pictures? I don't know if Director Wu is interested in collecting other ones?"

"Oh?"

Wu Tianyuan said with interest: "I've heard that the Forbidden City has other versions, could it be?"

(End of this chapter)