Chapter 0695 – Mountain Dwelling Painting (II)

“Mr. Zhuang, please take a look at this painting.”

Old Qi is the first to arrive, naturally the first to come up to appraisal, at this moment, Old Qi has put away his own “jade expert” frame, very respectfully will be in the hands of the painting, placed in front of Zhuang Rui.

“You this object, where is it from?”

Zhuang Rui had used his aura to observe the scroll in his hand as early as when Old Qi entered the room, and found that it contained an extremely dense white aura, and should be the handwriting of a recent master.

“Hehe, when I went to Shanghai some years ago, I exchanged it from an old friend’s hand, I don’t know much about landscape painting, so I took it to Mr. Zhuang to see if it is Mr. Xiao Junxian’s authentic work?”

Old Qi smiled, he took out this painting, on the one hand, he spent 20,000 dollars to buy his hands, indeed want to recognize the authenticity, on the other hand, in fact, also a little bit with this painting, test Zhuang Rui’s meaning.

Xiao Junxian although for the modern famous painter, but the name is not Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi, etc. loud, generally not a professional play calligraphy and painting people, even have not heard of this name.

Zhuang Rui heard the words of the old Qi, nodded, no expression on his face, but in his heart is a smile.

Zhuang Rui knows his own shortcomings, that is, the physical heritage of the origin of the knowledge, know less, so he thought of a stupid method, a brain will be ancient and modern many celebrities resume as well as artistic style, all memorized in the brain.

Combined with his own eyes identification ability, coupled with his understanding of ancient and modern artists, Zhuang Rui now absolutely deserve the title of “expert”.

For Xiao Junxian, Zhuang Rui still have the impression, and do not need to open the scroll, Zhuang Rui heart has already determined that this painting should be Xiao Junxian’s authenticity.

Because although Xiao Junxian is Hunan, but in his later years in Shanghai, and to sell paintings for a living, the old Qi from Shanghai to get this painting, has explained part of the problem.

After putting on his gloves, Zhuang Rui slowly rolled one side of the shaft rod and spread the painting out on the table.

This was a typical Chinese ink landscape painting, the painting style was very light and elegant, with a clear distinction between near and far, and as it pushed layer by layer towards the distant view, it expressed a very lofty realm, showing the author’s extraordinary painting skills.

“Mr. Zhuang, Mr. Zhuang, what do you think of this painting?”

It doesn’t matter if Zhuang Rui appraises for a longer time, but there are still hundreds of people waiting for appraisal outside the door, Manager Zhang can’t help but whisper and shout Zhuang Rui for a few sentences, letting him make a quick comment.

Zhuang Rui was originally immersed in this landscape abroad, suddenly interrupted by the tension, raised his head, somewhat confused, said: “Ah? Not bad ah! Not bad, it’s Xiao Junxian’s real handwriting.”

Just Zhuang Rui this word, inevitably a little lack of persuasion, this antique is not only fake to say the problem, is true, you also want to say his style and characteristics, of course, here more people care about, is its price.

So Zhuang Rui this sentence out, the old Qi and some connoisseurs, face is a trace of disappointment and contempt for the look, and now there is no one and Zhuang Rui confrontation, true or false are not all his mouth casually say it?

After the previous jade event, the old Qi is not so bold, very politely said: “Mr. Zhuang, you give a review?”

“Hehe, I’ll just say a few words then!”

Zhuang Rui’s eyes were still on the painting, gently brushing his hand over the thick and light ink, and said, “Chinese landscape painting, for the outline of light ink and burnt ink, is very delicate, thick ink and light color, to be appropriate, to be just right.

This painting has a very good expression of inking, and every brush stroke has a place to come from, showing a very solid basic skill.

To be disrespectful, like Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian and other modern masters, in the basic skills, may not be able to come than Mr. Xiao Junxian deep.

As a modern painter, Mr. Xiao has comprehended the essence of ancient painting while adding his own thoughts and creations, with his own unique artistic style ……”

When Zhuang Rui said this, the following was already so quiet that only the breathing of the crowd could be heard.

“I personally, is very respected Mr. Xiao, may be many friends do not know, Mr. Xiao Junxian is the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China is very famous a painter and calligrapher, and Mr. Xiao once abandoned the official for the teaching, gave up the official position to be a teacher, which at that time was the first person. During the time when Mr. Xiao was a teacher, he also created a lot of Chinese painters from the Republican period to the early liberation period, like Chen Shishou, Lv Fengzi and so on, all of them were Mr. Xiao’s students. This painting is Mr. Xiao’s imitation of Ju Ran’s Mountain Dwelling in the Five Dynasties, it can be said that it is a fine painting of this person, Xiao Junxian, it is very valuable to collect Houttuynia cordata, this old man, congratulations to you!”

Zhuang Rui’s words from the style of painting to the painter himself, in-depth, clarify the reasoning, listen to the crowd as if intoxicated, until after Zhuang Rui review, the crowd still did not come back to God, feel a little bit unfinished.

After a minute or so, under the lead of Manager Zhang, the applause suddenly rang out, and could not be stopped for a long time.

“Isn’t Mr. Zhuang a jade expert? How come he’s also so proficient in Chinese painting?”

“What do you know, these experts are all versatile, otherwise they would be on CCTV?”

“That’s right, Mr. Zhuang said it so well, it really feels like a lesson!”

After the applause stopped, the people have discussed, but the words are very small, afraid of disturbing Zhuang Rui.

To say that Zhuang Rui just pick up the leakage to prove their eyesight at the same time, there are some lucky ingredients, then this explanation, it is no less revealing, Zhuang Rui deep theoretical knowledge base.

Present playing calligraphy and painting of many people, among them there are still many people do not know the name of Xiao Junxian, in hearing as a jade expert Zhuang Rui, said after this insight, none of them is not heartily convinced.

“Mr. Zhuang, this painting can be worth how much money ah?”

After the authenticity was identified, the price was naturally the issue Lao Qi was most concerned about.

“Mr. Xiao Junxian’s painting, the collection potential is great, but the price of modern landscape paintings is not very high, I estimate that it should be between 40,000 and 60,000 dollars.”

Zhuang Rui pondered for a while and gave this price, to be honest, he was very eager to pocket this painting, because there are very few people who paint Chinese landscape in recent times, this painting can be said to be a representative painting.

Some friends may say, if it is representative, why is the price so low? This is also based on market demand, Zhuang Rui not said it earlier, the collection potential is very large, the main reason for the price is low, the key lies in is no one speculation.

You really think “Zhang Qi Xu” and other people’s paintings, the beginning of so valuable? It is not after being labeled with a lot of names, to be speculated, which is in the art market shine.

If Zhuang Rui can accept this painting, put it on display in their own museums, note the name of China’s modern landscape first person, to ensure that the value of this painting, immediately worth a hundred times.

Some people who are familiar with Lao Qi, know the origin of his painting, immediately said: “Lao Qi, congratulations! You received this a few years ago, right? Not a few years of work, the price doubled.”

“Oh, this is going to be sold, I still don’t know if anyone will buy it!” Old Qi modestly said a few words.

“You want to sell?”

Zhuang Rui’s heart stirred and said, “This is Master Qi, right? I am now collecting modern Chinese artwork, if you are interested in transferring it, I can offer one hundred thousand dollars, do you think it is possible?”

Zhuang Rui’s museum, is now in short supply of modern paintings and calligraphy, this Xiao Junxian although the reputation is not known, but the painting style is calm and elegant, representing a relatively high level of art during the late Qing Dynasty.

“Oh, Mr. Zhuang, if you fancy it, just give a price!”

The old Qi itself is to sell to support the collection, he is playing jade, the reason why the collection of this painting, is to sell money, Zhuang Rui since he wants to buy, he naturally is no reason not to sell.

Zhuang Rui pondered for a while, stretched out his right thumb and forefinger, gestured, said: “eighty thousand, master Qi, even if this painting on the auction, the price should not be higher than 60,000, I’m out of eighty thousand dollars, I don’t know what you mean?”

“Eighty thousand?!”

Old Qi froze for a moment, he originally thought that Zhuang Rui would offer a price of 40,000 to 50,000, he did not expect Zhuang Rui to give four times his own purchase price in one mouth, which made the old Qi did not anticipate.

“Master Qi, your painting, if you can stay on hand for another seven or eight years, it should be more than eighty thousand dollars, but as far as the current calligraphy and painting market is concerned, the price I offered, is already the highest.”

Zhuang Rui saw the old Qi some hesitation, hastened to add a firewood, this painting if it came to his hands, without seven or eight years, within two years, Zhuang Rui absolutely can speculate its price, the business of losing money, he will not do it!

“Okay, I’ll sell it, Manager Zhang, issue a notarized certificate of sale!”

Although Lao Qi does not know much about calligraphy and painting, and does not know the specific price of Xiao Junxian’s works, he believes that in front of so many people, Zhuang Rui would not dare to believe in it.

This antique trading, not that the hands of the object, must be able to sell, that also depends on the time, place and people, in order to sell a high price, if over Zhuang Rui this village, the old Qi may not be able to find out again eighty thousand store, so he agreed to be so dry.

Not to mention Zhuang Rui side is busy appraisal and trading, in Zhengzhou antique city around, is also a dark current, Jiang Hao received Zhuang Rui’s text message, immediately after coordinating Zhengzhou police, mobilized a large number of plainclothes police, into the antique city.