"I just went yesterday, how about the layout of my place today?" Old John also knew that Zhou Zhi was unlikely to buy anything, so he smiled and asked him his opinion on today's decoration.
The same applies to foreign thrift stores. They insist on not opening for three years and opening for three years. However, for stores with sufficient collections, they will regularly remove the items on display from the cabinets and replace them with other items. Inventory to keep things fresh for regular customers.
At the same time, this is also a demonstration of one's own strength.
“Very good.” Zhou Zhi picked up an export porcelain plate and looked at it.
Although this kind of export porcelain only started to earn foreign exchange through export in the 1980s, the actual firing time is often earlier, and there is a ten-year period in between.
In other words, many of the porcelains that came out of Jingde in the 1980s were fired in the 1960s, or even in the 1950s and stored in the inventory. It was just that the price was too "expensive" for Chinese people before. Generally, one Department stores only have one or two sets as furnishings. Except for the Capital Friendship Store and a few foreign-related hotels, there is basically no market.
There are also many fine products in this batch of porcelain, especially the porcelain created by several masters who have been famous since the Republic of China after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Their value will be very high in later generations.
For example, there are several of the famous Eight Friends of Zhushan, and those who were selected to be sent to Central Academy of Fine Arts for art training after the founding of the People's Republic of China because of their outstanding skills, and then returned to the factory to create.
“The object of this kind of plate is actually quite special.” Old John looked at a Huangshan landscape appreciation plate in Zhou Zhi’s hand and said: “Here at our place, we prefer the animal and flower themes you created.”
“If you like this plate, I can give you a 30% discount.”
Zhou Zhi shook his head with a smile and put the plate back: "I don't need this. Although the picture is beautiful, it lacks a sense of age. I prefer things with an ancient flavor."
"George, you The taste is indeed quite unique." Old John thought to himself, that group of painters and glazes. I don’t know how long the porcelain, which is not very outstanding in color, will be kept in my hands: “Is George interested in the Persian-style porcelain?”
In fact, Persian porcelain also has its own unique features, with blue color and white ground. It was used earlier than China, after all, they are the authentic place of origin of Suma Liqing.
However, the decorations on Persian porcelain, except for some exceptions in the batch customized and shipped from China, most of the patterns are dense and symmetrical, expressing the beauty of geometry rather than the traditional natural beauty of the East. , not in line with Zhou Zhi’s preferences.
So Zhou Zhi still shook his head: "Thank you, Old John, I have no interest in Persian porcelain. Well, I will go shopping in other stores."
When Zhou Zhi walked out of the store, before taking a few steps forward, Old John suddenly caught up with him: "George, there is an auction at the customs. I wonder if you are interested."
"What auction?" Yes?" Zhou Zhi asked.
“It is an auction where customs regularly handles goods.” Old John said: “You know, we have the largest and busiest airport and seaport in the world, and every year there are people stranded in the airport and seaport for various reasons. A large amount of goods."
"It is impossible to completely pile up these things. It is placed in the warehouse. Every once in a while, the customs will take out the items that have reached the preservation period for auction. For classified auctions, do they have that many people? ”
"You've got to the point." Old John's lips raised slightly: "So it's impossible for the customs to unpack everything, inspect it, determine the value, and then start the auction. They adopted an extremely irresponsible method." "What method?"
"Full container auction." Old John said: "From large containers to large packaging boxes, they simply scan the items that they think are of low value. It will be put up for auction and everyone will bid. The one with the highest price will win, and whether the final item will make a profit or lose, it all depends on God’s will.”
“Isn’t this too much of a gamble?” Zhou Zhi found it unbelievable: “Is it purely based on blind guessing? ?”
“Not entirely Blind guess. "Old John said: "For example, they will open the door of the container for everyone to take a look, but the contents are often carefully packaged, and we can only make inferences based on some clues exposed. "
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"However, the packaging of porcelain and glassware generally has shock-proof measures," said Old John: "It is relatively friendly to us, but the newness can only be determined based on the small clues on the packaging."
“I buy admission to the auction every year Coupon, if you are interested, I can take you to see it, but according to the rules of the industry, I will charge 3% of the transaction price you paid as a commission. "
" But how do you know there will be porcelain in today's auction?" Zhou Zhi asked.
"Young man, the United States is a country that excites adventurers." Old John spread his hands and said: "If everyone thinks like you do, the Mayflower has not set sail today."< br>
"Hahahaha..." Zhou Zhi was happy: "Old John, you have successfully aroused my curiosity. Let's go and have a look."
Old John took Zhou Zhi into his car, and the two of them drove quickly towards the airport.
Old John introduced to Zhou Zhi along the way that there are two places where customs disposes expired items, one at the seaport and one at the airport.
The things in the seaport are very large, and are often measured according to containers. The total price is high, the quantity is large, and the unit price is low. Generally, the ones I go to take pictures of are some big stores with relatively wide channels.
Compared to the seaport, the things in the airport are much smaller. Although the number of things inside is small, the unit price is often higher. Therefore, the total price of an item may actually be higher if there are more people interested in it. Not cheap.
The service at the old American airport is quite good. Many luggages have been stored for decades before they are remembered and brought out for auction. Therefore, it is naturally suitable for Taobao shopping in such an old store opened by John. Originally, Luggage that is not an old item will naturally become an antique if it is stored for decades. For the United States, which has a relatively short history.
Different antique dealers will swap things with each other after finding something. Old John talked about his highlight moment. He once photographed the luggage left by an Indian and found a snake-shaped dagger inside. The dagger itself It is a serpentine shape made of Damascus steel whose technology has been lost. The handle and scabbard are inlaid with red emeralds in gold, and the top of the sheath is decorated with a drop-shaped Kashmir cornflower sapphire.
The sapphire alone was worth as much as 30,000 US dollars, and the dagger was finally sold at the Guardian Auction House for 560,000 US dollars.
While complimenting Old John on his luck, Zhou Zhi sighed in his heart, even Indian handicrafts are more famous than Chinese art in the international market.
If nothing else, the value of the pair of Qianlong dragon and phoenix ear pastel vases with holes that Guang Zhouzhi found at the entrance of Old John's shop is not less than this sapphire dagger, and in his Among the several pieces of Kangxi multicolored porcelain from official kilns found in the warehouse, any piece should not be less than this amount.
But thanks to this, we have the opportunity to pick up big mistakes carefully. Thinking about it this way, it’s time to call him Amitabha again. (End of chapter)