[[[CP|W:210|H:140|A:C|U:http://file1.qidian.com/chapters/201211/28/2510132634896903162162225584927.jpg]]]“That’s more like it,” Gao Dequan nodded.

With society becoming wealthier and collecting activities becoming widespread and deep-rooted, specialized books on antiques and various reference materials are readily available. Whether buyers or sellers, their ability to discern authenticity and value has been strengthened, and books listing prices are now common.

Most of the truly fine pieces already have established owners; spotting a bargain is exceedingly difficult, opportunities are dwindling, and the probability is akin to winning a major lottery. No matter how lucky a person is, they can’t win every day, right?

“I was wondering how you managed to be so lucky, finding treasures everywhere you went,” Yu Feibai laughed, walking quickly to the crate and greeting Wang Guan as he casually flipped the lid open.

Immediately, a faint, elegant scent of ink drifted out.

“What is this?” Yu Feibai was momentarily stunned.

“Ink!”

Wang Guan smiled, grabbed a few sheets of newspaper nearby, spread them on the floor, and then began taking the ink sticks out of the box one by one, arranging them neatly on the paper.

Truth be told, after buying this box of antique ink, Wang Guan hadn't had time to properly count or sort through it. This was the perfect chance to seek Gao Dequan’s expert opinion and see if he had made a good purchase.

“This is…”

Just then, Gao Dequan walked over, looked down, and his face registered a look of complete astonishment.

Initially, Gao Dequan hadn’t paid much attention as Wang Guan brought out mostly broken or incomplete ink sticks. But as Wang Guan revealed one perfectly intact stick, spotting the patterns and characters inscribed upon it, Gao Dequan’s expression shifted dramatically, and he exclaimed in shock, “Ziyu Guang—is this real?”

Wang Guan paused, looking at the ink stick in his hand. It was rectangular, the ink as deep and lustrous as lacquer, incredibly fine in texture, hard, and dense, emitting a subtle, sweet fragrance.

On one side of the stick, the three characters ‘Ziyu Guang’ were neatly inscribed in regular script at the center. The lettering was outlined in gold, lending it an air of slight opulence.

Wang Guan wasn't particularly knowledgeable about ancient ink, so he naturally didn't know the provenance of Ziyu Guang. But Gao Dequan did. Upon seeing the stick, he immediately reached out, took it, and began examining it closely.

“Ziyu Guang… I think I’ve heard of that somewhere.”

At this point, Yu Feibai thoughtfully pulled out his phone, habitual gesture, to search online.

“No need to look it up.”

Before Yu Feibai could find any results, Gao Dequan spoke up: “Ziyu Guang is famous ink produced by Cao Sugong, one of the Four Great Ink Makers of the Qing Dynasty. When Emperor Kangxi made his southern tour, Cao Sugong seized the opportunity to present his ink, receiving the Emperor’s praise and the imperial bestowal of the name Ziyu Guang.”

“Uncle De, your knowledge is profound; you’re even better than Baidu,” Yu Feibai said with a flattering smile.

“Go on, get out of here,” Gao Dequan retorted, giving him a look. He then added earnestly, “Feibai, I’ve told you not to rely solely on searching materials. Even the most detailed data is just looking at the moon in the water; you think you grasp the essence, but the difference is vast. The ancients proved long ago that blindly following guides or rigidly applying theories will only lead to ridicule.”

“Uncle De, I know that. But you have to give me a chance to link theory with practice,” Yu Feibai countered with a grin. “Now is precisely the time for me to learn from you. Is this Ziyu Guang genuine?”

“That’s right, Uncle De, I’m curious too,” Wang Guan added with a smile. “Did my tens of thousands of yuan actually pay off?”

“The piece… should be genuine.”

Gao Dequan weighed the stick, repeatedly rubbed and observed it, tapped it, and sniffed it lightly before finally confirming: “In terms of texture, it’s relatively easy to distinguish new ink from old. For instance, new ink carries a greyish tint, while old ink is purely black and lustrous, possessing a deep, dense coloration.”

“Old ink has its own faint, deep, ancient fragrance and displays a patina of antiquity. New ink has a strange smell due to excessive gelatin content. Moreover, due to its age, the gelatin in ancient ink naturally recedes, making the texture hard as jade. The surface shows fine, subtle striations, revealing a substantial character, and the color is black mixed with purple. It feels heavy when held…”

Gao Dequan spoke volubly: “Some antique ink has a lacquer coating on the surface. The older it is, the thicker and more substantial the coating, often showing a crackle pattern resembling snake skin, extremely similar to the crackle on an ancient guqin. It’s also like the crazing on old porcelain—patterns are present but do not split through, hidden beneath the surface lacquer, simultaneously flashing with a bluish iridescence. Modern imitations lack this snake-skin pattern; they only show simple fractures.”

For over ten minutes, Gao Dequan held the ink stick, critiquing every aspect—from its surface and weight to its scent, the inscription, and the texture—without a single instance of repetition.

As Wang Guan listened intently, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Becoming a genuine antique appraiser wasn't easy; it required not only deep accumulated knowledge but also a sharp, articulate tongue…

“What a pity!”

After finishing his assessment, Gao Dequan sighed, clearly still wanting more to say. “This ink is merely common commercial grade, not Cao Sugong’s special tribute ink, the Shujin Ziyu Guang.”

“There are even different classifications for ink sticks?” Wang Guan asked, intrigued.

“Of course, there are,” Gao Dequan confirmed. “Like porcelain, which has utilitarian and ornamental pieces, ink has distinctions too. The highest quality is Imperial Ink, made for the royal household. Second is Tribute Ink, specially crafted by renowned ink makers across the provinces. Third are custom inks commissioned by literati and scholars. Fourth are collector’s pieces, or ornamental inks. Fifth is medicinal ink, used for healing. And finally, commercial ink used for writing.”

“Actually, the third and fourth categories can be grouped as ‘Elegant Play Inks.’ These were often custom-ordered by scholars and officials fond of such arts from ink makers, inscribed with the maker’s name, poetry, studio name, or paintings, intended for personal use or as gifts.”

Gao Dequan spoke fluently: “The most famous example of this type was a complete set of Qianlong Imperial Ink sticks depicting the Ten Views of West Lake, which sold for a staggering four million, four hundred eighty thousand yuan in ’07. That record price hasn't been surpassed to this day.”

“Four million…”

Wang Guan was overcome with mixed feelings of joy and shock, far exceeding his prior expectations. Before buying, he had thought these antique inks might be worth something, but he never imagined they would command such prices.

“Wang Guan, didn’t I tell you? That was Elegant Play Ink; yours is standard writing ink, so the prices naturally aren't comparable,” Gao Dequan laughed. “Even if they come from the same master craftsman, the materials and techniques used in their creation cause a massive disparity in value.”

“That makes sense,” Wang Guan conceded, nodding in understanding. “Some books record that in ancient times, valuable precious Chinese medicinal herbs were added when making ink, which would naturally make those premium pieces worth more.”

“So, does that mean Wang Guan lost money spending tens of thousands on these?” Yu Feibai asked.

“That’s not the right way to put it,” Gao Dequan shook his head. “The collecting of ancient ink flourished in the Ming Dynasty and was highly regarded by scholars throughout succeeding eras, reaching its peak in the late Qing and early Republic. However, it declined after the founding of the People’s Republic. It wasn't until the 80s and 90s, when Japan first sparked a collecting craze for ancient ink, that domestic collectors began paying serious attention.”

“After ’97, with the economic crisis, the ancient ink market also took a downturn. However, it has rebounded strongly in the last few years. Take this Ziyu Guang, for instance; a few years ago, it might have fetched a few thousand yuan at most. But now, you couldn't acquire it for less than ten thousand.”

................... New book. Seeking collections and recommendations. Please give plenty of support.

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