China the Beautiful

[pykong]

Art and collectibles auctions have been booming in the last two decades in China. Most of the auctions held by Chinese auctioneers have achieved very high attendance and many record breaking sky high knockdown prices. However, I personally have doubts in the integrity of some of these auctioneers. Yesterday, I found two internet articles regarding the auction of an under glaze-blue and red vase of Yong Zheng Dynasty in Beijing in 2008.

http://news.artxun.com/yuhuchunping-742-3708674.shtml
http://www.cuiweiju.com/files/article/html/18/18161/3383144.html

(Sorry, I would not attempt to translate these two articles into English)

These two articles contain an obvious make-up story for the vase and therefore it further strengthens my personal feeling about Chinese auctioneers. First of all, these two articles said that a previous owner of the vase Kuo Liang Hui saw the vase in New York (in 1986) but she didn’t bought it until she saw the vase again in London. This time, she made up her mind to buy it together with Professor Lee, a close friend of Kuo. Ms Kuo did mention in her famous book “Bluishness of Under glaze-blue” that she saw an under glaze-blue and red vase of Yong Zheng Dynasty in an antique shop in New York in 1986 but she did not mention whether she actually bought it. A picture of the vase is presented on the color pages after Page 64 of her book. The articles said that Ms Kuo bought it together with Professor Lee when they saw it again in London. I don’t know whether Ms Kuo bought it or not in London because Ms Kuo stopped writing books on antiques since 1987. However, the most absurd thing is that Professor Lee passed away in 1981 and he should have no chance to see this vase. I further confirmed my doubt when I made close comparison of the picture of the vase with that in Ms Kuo’s book, I found that they are only very similar but they are TWO DIFFERENT vases!!!
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Pleasure comes from answering doubts

[pykong]

The painting of 100 Shrimps by Qi Bai-shi which sold at a price of 120 million RMB in a public auction at Shenzhen is suspected to be a fake!!!

Please refer to the following news from a Hong Kong newspaper.

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20110517/00178_020.html
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Pleasure comes from answering doubts

[pykong]

This pate appeared as a cover item in the catalog of an upcoming auction in China.

Please look at the photos to make your own judgment

http://www.hkartclub.com/misc/Xuande%20Plate-1.jpg

http://www.hkartclub.com/misc/Xuande%20Plate-2.jpg

http://www.hkartclub.com/misc/Xuande%20Plate-3.jpg
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Pleasure comes from answering doubts

[pykong]

I saw an album with 9-pages of writings and paintings by Ba Da Shan-ren which will be auctioned in China later this year. According to the introduction of this album, it was endorsed by Tang Yun and has inscriptions by Xie Zhi-liu. Besides, it also has two seals of Qi Bai-shi. The key page is a bird standing on a branch. Although, this album was endorsed by so many big names, I think its authenticity is questionable simply because I think the bird does not bear the spirit of Ba Da Shan-ren. I have never seen a sleeping bird on a branch drawn by him. I admit that my knowledge of Ba Da Shan-ren is very limit so I may be wrong. You could see the bird on

http://www.hkartclub.com/misc/bird.jpg!!

Please correct me if I am wrong.
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Pleasure comes from answering doubts

[Venrilo]

Great information!