Chapter 31 Taking stock of harvest
After more than twenty minutes, everyone was reunited.
The old uncle was the first to speak: "What do you think of this?"
After saying that, he put several things on the ground, which looked messy.
Before Lin Yuan spoke, Uncle De just glanced at it and gave him a two-word evaluation - garbage!
The old uncle refused to accept: "It's impossible! You didn't even look carefully."
Uncle De said disdainfully: "Do you want to take it seriously? If you take a look at a fake thing, you will treat it as a treasure. From now on, you better not dig it out. Just work behind your nephew's back."
This time, the old uncle had nothing to say.
Henry also put his harvest on the ground, and then looked at Uncle De.
Uncle De took a few random glances and said: "They are all the same, except that the paperweight is an old thing, but it is of no use. These things are a pair."
Similar to the four treasures of pen, ink, paper and inkstone, paperweights can be called the "little five" in the study room of ancient literati.
In their study rooms, ancient literati often placed small bronzes and jades on their desks to admire, and at the same time used them to press paper or books. From this, paperweights, also known as paperweights and rulers, appeared.
Our common paperweights are rectangular wooden blocks.
In fact, the original paperweight had no fixed shape.
The origin of paperweights is that ancient literati often put small bronzes and jades on their desks to play with and appreciate them. Because they have a certain weight, people would also use them to press paper or books while admiring them. Over time, it developed into a kind of stationery utensil - paperweight.
"Isn't it valuable?" Henry was depressed.
Seeing his expression, Lin Yuan said: "It can't be said that it's not valuable, it's just that Uncle De doesn't like it. This paperweight should be made of rosewood, which is a precious wood.
Of course, if you can find another paperweight and make a pair, it's still worth ten or twenty thousand dollars. Now, it's estimated to be between three and two thousand dollars. ”
In fact, Lin Yuan himself does not understand the market price of Siamese rosewood.
However, he had seen the introduction of some precious wood last night, so now he could tell at a glance that it was made of Siamese rosewood. No matter what, it should be worth something, right?
So, he roughly said the number.
Uncle De shook his head: "It's not worth that much, about a thousand dollars!"
It's quite a lot, more than RMB 7,000.
After all, this is an object from the late Qing Dynasty. Although it is not complete, it is worth several thousand yuan.
The new cut surface of red rosewood has the unique sour aroma of rosewood, so it is called rosewood. It is a type of mahogany and is mostly used to make mahogany furniture, mahogany decorations, trinkets, etc.
It has the characteristics of luster, high strength, hardness, strong corrosion resistance, strong insect resistance, usually straight texture, fine and uniform structure.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it, along with small-leaf red sandalwood and huanghuali, were known as the "three major tribute trees" exclusively for the palace.
It should be noted that there are currently many unscrupulous merchants on the market using materials such as slightly concave cocobolo and Bali cocobolo to pass off Siamese rosewood and sell them at high prices.
"This is Cambodian rosewood, and the quality is not that good." Uncle De added.
Henry asked humbly: "Does this depend on the place of origin?"
"Of course! The best Siamese rosewood comes from Laos, followed by Cambodia, followed by Myanmar, Thailand and other places.
Of course, the market will change. In the past, the Siamese rosewood produced in Laos was indeed the best, but who can say for sure in the future?
For example, in the past, the Siamese rosewood produced in Cambodia was mainly obtained from the foot of the mountain, grew faster, and the annual ring pattern was not as tight and detailed as that produced in Laos.
Nowadays, because the output of wood is getting less and less, most of the Siamese rosewood produced in Cambodia is sourced from the mountains. The growing environment is similar to that of Laos, and the quality is not much different. The prices of the two in the market have converged. "Uncle De explained.
Even though the paperweight was only worth about $1,000, Henry was reluctant to throw it away and bought it just in case he could meet his significant other in the future! Paul was a little proud. He followed Lin Yuan and ate the meat.
I saw him taking out a piece of copperware, which looked a bit strange.
"Uncle De, look at this." Paul didn't speak Chinese and could only communicate in English. Fortunately, everyone understood it and communication was not a problem.
However, Paul has made up his mind to sign up for a Chinese class starting tomorrow and learn Chinese well. Otherwise, how could he hang out with Lin Yuan in the future?
Moreover, he always doesn't know how to listen, can't speak, and seems to be unsociable.
Uncle De could tell at a glance that this was a palace lantern from the Western Han Dynasty. It was of good value, but part of the palace lantern was missing and was incomplete. Otherwise, this Western Han Dynasty palace lantern would cost more than 200,000 US dollars.
There is a Changxin palace lantern from the Western Han Dynasty in China, which is known as the first lantern in China.
Because there was an inscription with the word "Changxin" on the lamp body, it was named "Changxin Palace Lantern".
The overall shape of the Changxin palace lantern is a young palace maid from the Han Dynasty kneeling and holding a lantern. She holds a covered copper lantern between her arms and is gilded throughout. Its shape changes from the mysterious and heavy bronze vessels in the past, and appears light and gorgeous, which is really rare.
The one in front of me is naturally not comparable to the Changxin palace lantern in China. It is several levels behind.
Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!
However, this kind of palace lantern is not vulgar and quite interesting. Its design has taken into account environmental factors and can reduce the smoke produced by oil lamps.
Anyone who knows Chinese history will know that there were no candles in the Han Dynasty. They were all candles made from animal and vegetable oils.
Although animal and vegetable oils and fats are used as lighting fuel, the lighting function is achieved, but the smoke and dust are large when burned, which often makes the indoor air dirty, filled with smoke, and accompanied by a pungent smell.
Therefore, lighting designers in the Han Dynasty came up with this kind of "environmentally friendly" lamp.
Although their original purpose is only to reduce smoke and pungent odors, making the indoor environment more comfortable, and not to prevent global atmospheric warming, the effect is the same, so it can be said to be an environmentally friendly light.
"Not bad! The palace lantern from the Western Han Dynasty is unfortunately a remnant and its value is greatly reduced. If it is well preserved, it would cost at least 200,000 US dollars, and now it would be 30,000 US dollars!" Uncle De commented.
Paul was satisfied.
Didn’t you see that Henry and the others were all annihilated?
Although his things are few, they are valuable!
"Xiao Lin, that inkstone of yours is interesting, let me take a look." Uncle De had already noticed the inkstone in Lin Yuan's hand.
It was really strange. He had actually been to several stalls that Lin Yuan went to, but he had never seen this inkstone! Did the stall owner just bring it out?
Lin Yuan handed over the inkstone.
As soon as he got started, Uncle De looked up and down a few times and his expression changed slightly.
"The inkstone with Ji Xiaolan's inscription, what a treasure! No, I'll take a closer look." Uncle De took out the magnifying glass this time.
It can be seen that he is serious this time.
The old uncle was also convinced.
My nephew is basically not empty!
If I had known earlier, I should have taken him out of the country as soon as possible. Why would he have read any more? I've been hanging around with him for a few years now, and I've become a billionaire!
(End of chapter)