[[[CP|W:210|H:140|A:C|U:http://file2.qidian.com/chapters/201212/7/2510132634905053851161250679735.jpg]]]“Right then, let’s examine the eighth piece in the collection now.”
As Wang Guan was lost in contemplation and gaining new insights, Elder Qian spoke again, resuming his role as host, though his voice carried a hint of weariness. This was partly due to his advanced age, which meant his energy reserves weren't as robust as they once were, and partly because appraising seven artifacts back-to-back had significantly drained his concentration.
“Elder Qian, perhaps we should take a short break?”
From the audience, someone offered a suggestion out of concern for the three elderly gentlemen. Elder Qian, however, shook his head and smiled. “It’s quite alright; there are only three more pieces left anyway. If we press on and finish the appraisal in one go, it will all be over, and we can relax.”
“Brother Lingxi, you’ve worked hard,” Elder Zhou said apologetically at this moment. If he hadn't been pressed for time to return home, Elder Qian wouldn't have needed to rush things.
Given their long-standing friendship, Elder Qian merely offered a gentle smile; everything they needed to say was understood between them. At this, Elder Zhang, standing nearby, laughed heartily. “Old Zhou, if you truly feel bad about it, then loan us that treasure of yours to admire for a couple of days.”
“Absolutely not,” Elder Zhou refused instantly, without a second thought. “Once those items fall into your hands, they’ll surely never come back.”
“What nonsense, making me sound like some kind of brigand…” Elder Zhang feigned displeasure.
“Who doesn’t know that? You, Butcher Zhang, are descended from bandits yourself!” Elder Zhou retorted playfully.
While the three elders bantered lightheartedly, the eighth artifact was unveiled on the display stand before everyone. It was a statue of the Buddha, entirely carved from jade. However, the halo above the Buddha’s head, along with the base and vestments, were inlaid with metal plaques.
“A White Jade Buddha with a Golden Crown and Held Pearl!”
Upon seeing this jade Buddha, someone in the crowd gasped in admiration. “How tall, how substantial—at least forty or fifty centimeters.”
“To use such a large piece of jade for a carving like this is truly rare.”
“After all these displays, we finally have something that truly takes one’s breath away.”
The murmurs of praise were continuous, and a few impatient attendees hurried forward to examine it more closely. Amidst the chorus of admiration, Wang Guan inadvertently noticed a flicker of smug satisfaction cross the face of Fang Mingsheng, seated nearby.
This immediately led Wang Guan to surmise that this jade Buddha might well be one of Fang Mingsheng’s prized possessions.
Suddenly, Yu Feibai, standing next to him, exclaimed, “The luster is warm and moist, and the entire piece is pure, without a single impurity—it’s actually top-grade Hetian jade.”
“You can tell that from this distance?” Wang Guan was momentarily startled, feeling a touch of surprise.
“Of course, I can.”
Yu Feibai chuckled lightly. “If it comes to porcelain, I might not surpass you. But when it comes to jade, you definitely can’t beat me. All sorts of new jade, ancient jade, Khotan jade, Xiu jade, Hetian jade—I’ve been handling them since childhood; I absolutely cannot be mistaken.”
“Oh.”
Recalling the Hetian seed-jade pendant hanging from Yu Feibai’s car, Wang Guan began to understand better, realizing again that Yu Feibai’s preferences were quite different from those of the average young master.
One had to consider that the typical 'second generation' heirs, in the public perception, were either into fast cars or high-stakes thrills just for kicks. A person dedicated to collecting was surely something of an outlier. Of course, this dedication implied serious effort and genuine study, not just shrewdly seizing whatever valuable items they saw others possess.
At least, in Yu Feibai’s case, apart from being somewhat flighty and fond of beautiful women, Wang Guan couldn’t detect any of the other common vices of a spoiled heir.
Just then, Gao Dequan also murmured softly with admiration, “What a fine piece. Hetian jade is precious enough on its own, and rarely in any era would someone dare to use such a massive block for a display carving.”
At the same time, someone in the audience called out loudly, “Is this jade Buddha old or new?”
“Old.”
One of the people viewing up close turned back to answer. “Moreover, it’s crystal clear as snow, completely pure white, almost like congealed fat—it’s genuinely top-tier Hetian jade material. The jade quality is hard, and the surface shows slight signs of mineralization, looking a little yellowish.”
“What? A faint yellow patina? Could this be thousand-year-old white jade turning into qiukui?” Someone exclaimed in shock. This immediately unsettled many people, who then got up and crowded forward for a closer look.
Of course, even when crowding, they maintained a sense of order, keeping only a slight distance, examining it intently from afar.
Suddenly, someone requested, “Old Chen, please enlighten us.”
“Very well…”
Old Chen was the connoisseur standing closest to the jade Buddha, observing it in minute detail. He held up a magnifying glass, scrutinizing every part of the Buddha’s body, before slowly explaining, “This statue is an inlay combination of jade and bronze. The halo around the Buddha’s head and the skirt decorations on the body are made of bronze metal.”
“Look at this halo; the radial lines flow smoothly. The bronze skirt trim integrates flawlessly with the jade carving, testament to incredibly high craftsmanship. However, I see these bronze pieces look quite new; they might have been added later.”
Evidently, Old Chen possessed considerable appraisal skills, and his explanation earned nods of agreement from those standing nearby.
“Judging by the attire and the exposed upper body of the statue, this should be a Bodhisattva!”
Someone added, hesitatingly, “Based on how the white jade has taken on the patina, the jade Buddha should be over a thousand years old—it likely dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty.”
“No, the sculptural style of Song Dynasty Buddha figures is not like this,” someone countered. Those nearby recognized that this individual was well-versed in Song-era artifacts, so his assertion was probably trustworthy.
“If it’s not the Song Dynasty, could it be Sui, Tang, or the Five Dynasties?” someone challenged.
“Exactly, it is from the Tang Dynasty.”
Suddenly, Gao Dequan approached, bringing Wang Guan and Yu Feibai along. Gao Dequan observed the jade Buddha carefully for a moment before stating with confidence, “Look closely, everyone. The statue’s facial features are round and full, with long, drooping ears, possessing a demeanor that is dignified yet benevolent. The body proportions are even, the structure is sound, and the form is ample, well-rounded…”
Gao Dequan meticulously pointed out the details, concluding with great assurance: “This kind of modeling, these specific characteristics, completely align with the stylistic features of Tang Dynasty Buddhist sculpture.”
What he said sounded plausible, but some remained skeptical. For a moment, everyone fell silent in thought. After a brief pause, someone simply asked, “Elder Zhang, what is your opinion?”
“You are all blocking the view; how can I possibly see?” Elder Zhang said bluntly.
Immediately, the crowd parted, creating a path.
Though Elder Zhang’s hair was completely white, his body remained robust. He strode forward with a firm step, quickly walking up to the display stand, reaching out gently to touch the jade Buddha, letting out a sigh of emotion. “Setting aside the rarity of the jade material and the marvel of the craftsmanship, this jade statue alone is a true rarity.”
Younger men like Wang Guan, who had only recently entered the world of antiquities, might not grasp the depth of Elder Zhang’s exclamation, but the more seasoned collectors among them nodded in unanimous agreement.
After all, Buddhist statues throughout history were mostly cast in gilded bronze, carved from stone, or sculpted in wood; those made of jade were comparatively rare. Furthermore, jade pieces only became somewhat popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties, usually as small pendants or common trinkets.
But a substantial, ancient masterpiece like the White Jade Buddha with a Golden Crown and Held Pearl was indeed exceedingly scarce. It was no wonder that its mere appearance had elicited such an enthusiastic reaction from the assembled crowd.