Chapter 53 Famous Store
In this part of the capital, if you want to sell paintings, where should you go?
No need to ask, of course it’s Rong Baozhai from Ben Liulichang.
Liulichang is an ancient cultural street famous both at home and abroad in the capital, located just outside Hepingmen.
It got its name because a kiln was set up here to bake glazed tiles in the Yuan Dynasty.
In the middle of Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the Liulic kiln of the Yuan Dynasty was expanded into a factory, so it was called "Liulichang".
But this place really prospered during the Kangxi and Qianlong dynasties in the Qing Dynasty.
In the Kangxi Dynasty, the imperial court ordered the compilation of "Collection of Ancient and Modern Books".
During the Qianlong Dynasty, the imperial court ordered the compilation of "Sikuquanshu".
As a result, the task of compiling these two tomes triggered a large number of scholars from all over the country to respond, each bringing books to Beijing.
And because the inner city and the outer city were different, at that time, except for the banner tribe and a few craftsmen, the people could only live in the outer city.
As a result, not only the area near the front door gradually became crowded with guild halls.
Liulichang has also become the best place for these scholars, as well as those who came to Beijing to take exams, to read, sell, buy and exchange books.
At the same time, it also triggered the development and development of epigraphic archeology, and drove antique dealers to open stores in Liulichang.
No matter epigraphy, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, inscriptions, ancient coins, or other industries involving elegant culture, they all developed under this situation.
This is how Liulichang became famous.
It has been more than 300 years since Liulichang truly became popular and prosperous, and has gone through more than 300 years of changes in the world.
Of course there are many well-known old names on this street.
Rong Baozhai is a very representative one.
The predecessor of Rong Baozhai was the Songzhuzhai Nan Paper Shop founded in 1672.
Originally, it was just a shop that only dealt in various types of paper and the Four Treasures of the Study.
But the woodblock engraving skills and calligraphy and painting mounting and restoration skills here are very famous.
During the Qianlong period, Songzhuzhai exclusively provided paper for official documents in the inner court and examination papers for the imperial court.
In the 20th year of Guangxu's reign, Zhuang Huchen, an expert in the industry, became the store manager.
He made a series of reform measures for Songzhuzhai, which was in debt and in trouble.
Among them was the decision to rename the store Rong Baozhai and expand various businesses.
From then on, Rong Baozhai was no longer limited to the business of buying and selling pens, inks, paper, inkstones, and the four treasures of the study. He also got involved in the business of buying and selling calligraphy and painting, and ordering calligraphy and painting on behalf of customers.
In terms of business operations, Rong Baozhai adheres to the purpose of "making friends through literature" and focuses on maintaining a relationship with famous calligraphers and calligraphers.
As a result, it gradually became a very trusted friend of calligraphers and painters, and was even regarded as the "home of calligraphers and painters".
It is precisely for this reason that at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, in order to attract customers, various old stores in Liulichang competed to display paintings and calligraphy by famous artists in front of the windows to attract people to stop and watch.
Among them, Rong Baozhai has the most famous paintings and is the most lively, becoming a scenery in Liulichang.
In the Republic of China, two famous literati commissioned Rong Baozhai to print "Beiping Jianpu" and "Shizhuzhai Jianpu" with woodblock watermarks, which made Rong Baozhai even more famous. broadcast.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the management rights of Rong Baozhai gradually changed from private to public, and came under the leadership of the Fine Arts Publishing House.
Subsequently, it merged with Heping Painting Shop, a well-known painting shop in the painting industry, and became a hit.
Up to this time, Rong Baozhai has developed into the largest and most influential store in Liulichang.
A comprehensive sales department whose business covers publishing, printing, restoration, mounting and the purchase and sale of calligraphy and paintings.
And with its exquisite traditional skills and honest management methods, it is deeply trusted and favored by customers at home and abroad.
On this street, the only store that also has the right to purchase and sell ancient paintings and calligraphy is Baoguzhai, a unit directly under the Cultural Relics Bureau.
But despite the appearance, Kang Shude and Ning Weimin came to Liulichang to sell paintings because of the name of Rong Baozhai.
But selling is not that simple, it can’t be straightforward.
Just like when picking up goods, you can’t save trouble.
Otherwise, the price could be very different, and it would be difficult to sell good things at a low price.
Kang Shude is the best in this industry. He is not only knowledgeable but also scheming.
Whenever he wants to let go of something, he must first find out in advance and be aware of it.
For example, before going to Liulichang, there were the second-hand goods store in Longfu Temple Shopping Mall, the second-hand goods collection point in Xidan, and the Yueyatang store on the west side of Huguosi Street Road. The old man was not afraid of trouble, so he and Ning Weimin went separately with their calligraphy and paintings.
Even on the rest day, he came to Liulichang with his things and Ning Wei, and it was really time to take action, so he was not in a hurry.
I went to Baoguzhai first to inquire about the price before starting to take actual action.
To be honest, the old man originally planned to go to the Beijing Painting Store in Wangfujing to inquire.
But when he walked to the door, he suddenly remembered.
That painting shop was owned by the same owner as Rong Baozhai, and they were both affiliated with the Fine Arts Publishing House.
He was afraid that the news would be exposed when he went, so he didn't go in.
What is legwork and mouthwork?
You have to at least do this.
Secondly, you can’t sell the paintings directly when you get there, because rushing there is not a business.
Rongbaozhai is so famous that it is a national unit.
In addition, the service attitude of all walks of life these days is obvious to all, and there is a certain common problem.
In such a transaction, it is too easy for private individuals to be passive.
So Kang Shude had to find a way to get the store to ask him to get the ideal price.
What to do?
It’s actually easy to handle.
You can surround Wei to save Zhao and secretly attack Chencang.
A few minutes before eleven o'clock, Kang Shude finally brought Ning Weimin to Rongbaozhai.
To be honest, Ning Weimin was a little surprised by Rong Baozhai these days.
Because its store is actually a bungalow with a simple appearance with cement stone walls.
It looks a bit like a Soviet-style building, without much retro style.
But the entrance is large, with a plaque hanging on it and a verandah outside.
It is indeed more formal than other stores on this street.
After entering, it is completely a traditional store model.
It is a glass counter that goes around the wall.
The glass counter contains exquisite small items such as brushes, ink pads, inks, and inkstones.
On the antique shelf at the back are all kinds of papers, pen holders, ink cartridges, ornaments, fans, and other large antique items.
Just the layout of the store and the things for sale.
Ning Weimin didn't have time to take a closer look. His attention was almost entirely on his master.
Because he knew that after entering the gate of Rong Baozhai, the performance had just begun.
"Comrade, can you restore paintings and calligraphy here? I want to ask..."
"Go inside..."
Hey, Kang Shude is not thorough at all. Just finish talking.
Behind the counter selling brushes, a lean, expressionless male salesman interrupted him.
I pointed inwardly with my hand and became speechless.
He didn't even raise his eyes to look at anyone, as if someone owed him eight hundred debts.
But I can’t be picky, but I have to say thank you.
Because in fact, it happens everywhere, and they get the same treatment when they go to other places.
It's not worth being angry about, so don't go out.
What's more, the slightly shabby clothes of Kang Shude and Ning Weimin also played a role in making people look down upon.
If they could dress better, like foreign guests, and hire a car to come, maybe this would not be the case.
(Note: Nan Zhi Dian, because rice paper, Hui ink, Duan inkstone, Hu pen and other four treasures of the study are all produced in the south, people in the capital are accustomed to call the shops that sell such things Nan Zhi Dian.)
(End of this chapter)