Chapter 472 Auction or Sale of Stolen Goods?

In the meeting room of Christie's in Hong Kong.

Shen Yangling handed Zhang Yang a list of auction items.

It was thick, with dozens of pages.

Each page had photos, text descriptions and estimates of the items.

The items on it were the items they had drafted internally for this summer auction.

This auction was the "Christie's Shenghai Evening Auction".

It was not a large-scale auction.

It could only be regarded as the closing branch of Christie's entire summer auction.

"To be honest, Master Zhang, our development in Shenghai was very bad before."

Shen Yangling introduced to Zhang Yang with a bitter face.

Every time she introduced this matter, it would bring back her painful memories of failure that year.

In the ten years since Christie's entered the mainland market, it changed venues three times, fired four general managers of the Huaxia region, and stopped operating for three years.

With so many ups and downs, if it were a startup company, it would basically be sentenced to death.

But they are Christie's, one of the two largest auction companies in the world.

So they are still struggling, and even want to turn things around.

This evening auction at Shenghai is their attempt.

"There are a total of 160 lots in this booklet, and our goal is to auction 50 to 60 fine pieces."

"Fifty? Why only so few?"

Zhang Yang was surprised by the number of lots.

According to the size of Christie's, especially in an international metropolis like Shenghai, it is strange to only hold one evening auction.

Normally, it should be held over several days and in several venues.

It's okay to hold one auction, but the number of lots is so small?

Not to mention two or three hundred pieces, at least more than a hundred, right?

"This is because we just got the qualification for cultural relics auction this year, and we dare not take too big a step."

"Before, we could only auction artworks in Shenghai."

Shen Yangling came over and helped Zhang Yang turn to the front of the booklet.

It briefly introduced the auction results of 22 years.

Zhang Yang took a look and was surprised that only 40 lots were auctioned.

But the transaction amount was a bit impressive, at 220 million.

But when he saw the auction items, Zhang Yang was happy.

They were all masters of abstract art, and the one closest to reality was Picasso, whose works were not sold.

So it was a special auction for abstract art.

It was indeed easy to sell at a high price, and there was a lack of such legal whitewashing occasions in China.

"Can Picasso's paintings also be not sold?"

Zhang Yang looked at Shen Yangling with some curiosity.

Failure to sell is the biggest denial of the auction organizer.

It not only means a waste of publicity resources and the location of the auction items, but also expensive storage fees, shipping fees and insurance.

In response, Shen Yangling smiled bitterly and replied:

"This is because there was a problem with the market research in the early stage."

"So this time, we insisted on finding someone who understands the mainland antique market to help choose."

"I understand."

Zhang Yang smiled and nodded, jokingly saying:

"Then the burden on me is a bit heavy."

"Don't worry, Director Zhang, we won't let you suffer a loss."

"Don't worry, of course I don't worry."

"Okay, let's stop talking nonsense and start with these East Asian cultural relics."

Zhang Yang stood up and said.

Shen Yangling politely made a gesture of invitation.

On the way to the warehouse, Zhang Yang browsed through all the auction catalogs.

Although there are only more than 100 pieces, there are quite a lot of categories.

And the valuation of each piece is not low.

It is estimated that in Shen Yangling's view, it is a situation of "the palm and the back of the hand are all flesh".

Otherwise, she would not have given Zhang Yang a preliminary list with an elimination rate of more than 60%.

In the preliminary list, East Asian cultural relics are the least.

After all, if we consider antiques, there are only two countries in East Asia besides China: Goryeo and Japan.

Although there are few things, the quality is a bit beyond Zhang Yang's imagination.

This "quality" mainly refers to the valuation.

The first one in valuation is a white-glazed moon jar.

It comes from the Goryeo region in the 18th century.

Christie's estimated it at 14 million RMB.

The starting price is generally lower than the valuation, but it is definitely more than 10 million.

To be honest, from Zhang Yang's own oriental aesthetics, this white porcelain jar is really not good.

If I write an appraisal, it would be:

The shape is asymmetrical and skewed;

The ring foot is too small, which makes the center of gravity less stable;

The embryo is not neatly repaired, and the glaze is not pure.

In ancient China, this is a kiln waste or defective product.

But how to say it, maybe sometimes incompleteness is also a kind of beauty.

This kind of white porcelain, which is considered a defective product in the eyes of Chinese ceramic connoisseurs, is the favorite of modern Western designers.

In addition, this type of porcelain is very rare, with no more than 20 pieces in the world, so it has been hyped up in recent years.

In fact, the fact that there are no more than 20 pieces is a reason for it to be hyped.

Anyway, the estimated price of 14 million is not a random estimate.

Sotheby's once held a special auction for a white glaze moon jar of the same type, and the entire auction was for this one.

"Master Zhang, do you think this one is okay?"

Shen Yangling asked in a low voice. She was a little worried that Zhang Yang would act on impulse.

After all, many mainland collectors she had contacted before sneered at this kind of auction item from East Asia.

It was a bit unprofessional.

"It's okay, to be determined."

Zhang Yang drew a question mark on the list.

"If there is no better auction item, it will be no problem for this piece to be shortlisted. Some people in China are still interested in this kind of internationally recognized porcelain."

"Because it is valuable, it is not restricted by domestic cultural relics policies and can be traded freely."

"Oh, I understand, this thing can be used as a gift." Shen Yangling suddenly realized.

"There's no need to elaborate on this..."

"As long as you know it yourself, let's continue."

The second East Asian cultural relic Zhang Yang saw was a painting by Katsushika Hokusai.

The estimated value is 5 million RMB.

Do neon painters still have this ability?

Zhang Yang was a little curious.

But when I walked to the display case, I took a look at the content of the painting.

Is it this painting? That's okay.

Zhang Yang has no impression of neon painters and artists.

But this painting gives people a very familiar feeling, as if they have seen it somewhere.

It is estimated that later cartoonists paid tribute to this painting.

Zhang Yang also gave this painting a "to be determined".

Ranked below this painting is another kind of porcelain from the Goryeo Kingdom.

This time, Zhang Yang crossed directly on the back.

This kind of thing is not too valuable, not too rare, and not as beautiful as the porcelain from the folk kilns of the third and third dynasties of the Qing Dynasty at the same time. It really doesn't deserve to be auctioned, right?

In other words, there is really nothing left to steal from the Chinese people, so this kind of thing has to be sent for auction.

Zhang Yang immediately gave him all the crosses.

Of course, his reasons are very valid:

"In fact, in the eyes of domestic people, Goryeo porcelain is a separate category, probably equivalent to the Kangxi blue and white general jar."

"One masterpiece is enough."

"As for the neon stuff, let's save it for the auction in Tokyo. There is absolutely no market in Shenghai."

"I understand." Shen Yangling nodded.

She also asked the female assistant who was following her to write down what Zhang Yang said.

The valuable content in these words was what they would discuss in a meeting later.

After getting rid of the East Asian cultural relics, Zhang Yang's attention was attracted by European cultural relics.

The one with the highest estimate is an Egyptian bronze cat.

It was cast in the Ptolemaic period (about 332-30 BC), which is equivalent to the Western Han Dynasty in China.

The things are not expensive, and the valuation is only B.

It is definitely within the acceptable range of some collectors in the country.

But Zhang Yang is not focused on this, but on the sources of item information, one of which shows:

This thing was stolen from a museum somewhere in Egypt by an Ahmed man and sent to a British collector.

It happened just a few months ago.

Zhang Yang glanced at Shen Yangling doubtfully.

Shen Yangling was very sensitive and immediately asked him after noticing Zhang Yang's eyes:

"Is there something wrong with this thing?"

"When you collected the auction items, did you check the origin of the items?" Zhang Yang asked rhetorically.

"Of course, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just that I think bronze cats like this are usually found in pyramids, right?"

Zhang Yang deliberately didn't tell the truth, he wanted to know what was going on.

"That was a long time ago."

Shen Yangling explained with a smile:

"Like this lot, it was sent by our senior members in Europe."

"This member himself is a master of the collection circle. He was once an employee of the British Museum. There has never been anything wrong with the items he has sent for auction over the years..."

"So when you investigate the origin, you won't just ask this member, right?" Zhang Yang asked rhetorically.

"You can't say that. Our investigation is quite rigorous."

Shen Yangling wanted to explain, but in the face of the facts, her explanation seemed a little weak.

"Okay, I understand." Zhang Yang nodded.

Since he is so sure that he has investigated it, he has nothing to say.

It’s not certain whether the so-called Christie’s member is a real person.

What if it’s a white glove from Christie’s.

Go ahead.

Zhang Yang looked at more than twenty Greek, European, and Egyptian antiques in a row, but none of them caught his eye.

The value is low and the recognition is so poor that he can’t even recognize it.

During the preview of these things, except for the golden mask, no one should have seen them.

Zhang Yang put a question mark on the ancient Greek golden mask and denied the rest.

Including the East Asian cultural relics that were previously rejected, there are 160 pre-selected items, and the odds will soon be removed.

Only one hundred and eight pieces remain.

But the next choice will be more difficult, because they are all traditional cultural relics of China.

One out of every two items must be eliminated.

"Are you really not considering expanding the quantity?"

Zhang Yang wanted to be lazy, so he asked Shen Yangling and explained:

"In my opinion, these things have the value of being auctioned. In Shenghai, as long as you set the starting price well, it should not fail."

"Master Zhang, let me explain to you too."

Shen Yangling walked up to Zhang Yang and whispered in his ear:

"The cultural relics business license for this auction is temporary. The leader who approved it specifically asked us not to bid too much."

"Low-key."

“Try to go the boutique route.”

"So that's it. Is the approval leader's surname Chu?" Zhang Yang asked.

Although Lao Chu has retired, before him and Xiao Chu, there was another "Zhong Chu" who probably also held an important position in the Cultural Relics Bureau.

It's just that because of seniority issues, I can't say anything.

Zhang Yang was actually very curious about where "Zhong Chu" was, but Old Chu didn't mention it, and Little Chu deliberately didn't say it.

As a result, he still doesn't know until now.

"It seems that there is a person named Chu, but he is responsible for archiving the auction items. I have sent him information before."

"Oh, that should be the person who manages the cultural relics on sale."

Zhang Yang nodded, and he understood why Old Chu didn't mention his nephew.

It turned out that he worked in a civilian position in a marginal department.

But this also shows one thing, that is, he really didn't rely on connections, otherwise he would have changed departments long ago.

"Okay, since there are requirements from above, it is really hard to violate."

Zhang Yang nodded and began to look at the highest-valued auction items.

A blue and white folded edge washbasin with four-season floral patterns from the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty.

After looking at the crooked melons and cracked dates from the Goryeo Kingdom just now, let's look at the traditional blue and white porcelain.

It is simply a pleasure for Zhang Yang.

Especially the blue and white porcelain of the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, if you want to have this kind of enjoyment all the time, you need to pay at least 25 million.

This is just an estimate.

Zhang Yang estimated that the transaction price must be above 30 million.

The reason is very simple. This is really one piece in the Forbidden City and one piece here.

It's just that the same type of things have completely different fates.

This piece was taken to sea by Zheng He during the Yongle period and shipped to what is now India.

Later it was transferred to the UK.

In fact, the shape of the vessel can also tell the name. This type of folded-edge washing vessel is not found in traditional Chinese porcelain.

It incorporates some styles from the Islamic region of West Asia.

The earliest unearthed such artifacts was in West Asia.

According to the official information given by Christie's, there is also a similar collection in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

This is a treasure worth 30 million.

Zhang Yang suddenly felt that Mr. Cheng's idea of ​​trying to find treasures in West Asia before made some sense.

There may really be treasures there.

It depends on whether you are lucky enough to encounter them.

If you encounter them, you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life.

Below this blue and white folded edge washbasin, the second most valuable is a [Blue and white underglaze red cloud sea flying dragon pattern celestial globe vase], Yongzheng official kiln, six-character regular script.

Estimated value 18 million.

"This estimate is a bit low."

"Underglaze red blue and white porcelain, or such a complete celestial globe vase, less than 25 million is a bargain."

After Zhang Yang's evaluation, he glanced at Shen Yangling.

"Is there a flaw in this thing? Is there a problem with the body underneath?"

"Yes." Shen Yangling nodded and explained, "There was a problem with this thing when it was transported that year."

"Then do you know why there was a problem?" Zhang Yang asked back.

"I don't know."

"Actually, I don't know either."

Zhang Yang smiled.

I wanted to say it, but after thinking carefully, forget it.

This thing was originally collected in Prince Zhuang's mansion. In 1900, Prince Zhuang's mansion was burned down by a fire.

This underglaze red celestial globe vase was left.

However, it is estimated that in 1901, the conditions for navigation in the UK were not very good, and a piece of the bottom of the item was knocked off.

Zhang Yang looked at the various Qing Dynasty imperial artifacts on the list, and the sellers were basically from Europe.

He suddenly understood:

Why Christie's had been stuck in the auction of artifacts before.

Because the source was not good.

Zhang Yang thought, look at these old collections from the Qing Palace, this is not an auction.

This is obviously the return of stolen goods. (End of this chapter)