Master descends to earth

Chapter 156
Seeing Su Yuan curious, Yagyu Zaemon explained: "As an important source of Chinese cultural relics and artworks, the island country has long been the target of global auction houses. Many important porcelains from international auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's come from here. Even Jiadebaoli and many domestic auction houses in your country have been operating for many years and are working hard to explore resources."

"However, for auctions, only a small portion of transactions are made, and the most mainstream is the exchange meeting, which is the most authentic way of circulation of cultural relics."

"The so-called antique exchange meeting is the oldest trading method. Through the antique dealer group, you can transfer your collection to the next family, or buy things from other antique dealers. The exchange meeting will charge a certain commission from it. It is safe and reliable. Old man is not deceived."

"Back then, Sakamoto Goro sold the Mouse Zhiye Cup that he had collected for many years at the Sanle Club, and it was sold for 100 million yen. Due to the need to deduct 10% commission, the transaction lost 10 yen. I heard that the cost of buying that thing was 80, but in order to raise funds to buy a celadon vase, I can only reluctantly part with it.”

"The resources of our island country's antique industry are each closed and independent. Antique dealers will participate in different exchange meetings, but there is a competitive relationship between each exchange meeting. Basically, it is in a closed state and has extremely high requirements for credibility. Several senior members jointly recommend it as a guarantee, and all members can only join the membership after agreeing, such as the Tokyo Art Club, which is one of the last influences."

Su Yuan listened carefully and was very interested. This is the key to entering the island country market.In the future, the high-end boutique route will be positioned, and the exchange meeting will be the most important sales channel.

Zaemon took a sip of tea and continued: "Tokyo Club was established in the Meiji period. Members are required to be an important antique dealer in the country. They must have worked in the industry for at least five years before they can apply for membership. Novices are not accepted."

"The shareholder system is implemented internally, and they are all first-class art dealers. Exchange meetings are held every spring and autumn, and there are also grades among members. When Sakamoto Goro joined the club, the seats were arranged according to seniority, and the front row was the most prestigious. Antique dealers prepare."

"Sakamoto's goal at the time was to try to sit in the front row. Later, in order to increase the right to speak, he bought club stocks for several apprentices who had worked in Buyantang for more than 10 years, and acted as a guarantor for their membership."

"In his later years, he simply imitated the way of the Tokyo Art Club, set up his own business, and opened up his own Taoli Club. Originally, it was only an internal communication between the disciples of the Sakamoto family, but it gradually developed into one of the most influential antique exchange clubs, which is still active today."

"A lot of exchange meetings adopt irregular auctions. The operation is very simple, and many things are produced every year. Recently, a Southern Song Dynasty official kiln Bafang furnace was auctioned in Kansai, which was from the Taolihui. Hundreds of antique dealers participated every time, and many of them were alone. , very active."

"We also have several well-known exchange meetings in Kyoto, such as Qingshanhui, Daze, Fuyuanhui, Chayuanhui, etc. I am a senior member of Qingshanhui, and I am qualified to recommend new people to join the club."

"Our domestic antique dealers mostly focus on medium and long-term investment. Old antique dealers have a habit of buying things for more than five years before selling them, because people in the circle still have an impression of this item when they first bought it. After five or six years, the impression is blurred. , the price can be increased, or even doubled.”

"So after buying things, they are usually thrown into the warehouse without even looking at them. Use a form to record the time of purchase in detail, and then sell them when the time is almost the same. Because short-term operations can only make a difference in price, the income is not high, unless it is a leak. But the probability of missing it is very low.”

Su Yuan nodded. This is contrary to the impetuous atmosphere in the country. There is too much hot money now, coupled with the illegal operation of the auction house, the real collectors are reduced to spectators instead. Facing the favorite collection, they can only look at it and sigh, and have no chance to sell it. .

"Don't look at the antique exchange meeting as primitive and conservative, but it has tenacious vitality. The rules have not changed at all for hundreds of years, and it is very exclusive."

"Sotheby's and Christie's held auctions in China with great fanfare, and the result was a complete failure. This is the main reason. But the exchange meeting will not prevent a large number of high-end boutiques from the antique circle from flowing to the international auction houses."

"Although after more than ten years of repatriation, many cultural relics have returned to their homeland, but they are actually just the tip of the iceberg. Compared with the folk antiques, they are just a drop in the bucket."

Su Yuan took a deep breath, although he was mentally prepared, he still felt a faint heartache.The little devil is very obsessed with ancient Chinese artworks, which have been continuously flowing in through various channels for thousands of years.During the Anti-Japanese War, the military looted a lot.

It can be said that after a hundred years of war, a large number of antique dealers searched for antiques in various places. Taking Tianjin and Hong Kong Shipping as an example, the data shows that from 1909 to 1919, exports to island countries accounted for 90% of all antique exports, which can be said to be almost monopolized.

It was later overtaken by the United States, and there were two major antique families, Yushan Longquantang and Shanzhong Chamber of Commerce, in addition to hundreds of large and small antique dealers.

Zuemon laughed and said, "I heard that an expert surnamed Liu was in charge of appraising and appraising antiques back then. Because the tax was paid to the UK as collateral, the inspection was carried out in the presence of the British, and the tax rate was [-]% of the price of the item. Five per cent tax."

"So everyone bought an appraiser and asked him to estimate the price as half or one-third of the actual price. Only two of the ten goods were opened. If they happened to be cheap goods with a low original price, the estimated value was used as a standard to levy other goods. taxes on goods."

"Even record the number on the cargo box in advance, give him a bribe, and tell him the number of the unpacked box that day. Cross the sea, steal the beam, and many national treasures were smuggled back to China."

Su Yuan clenched his hands tightly, feeling desolation in his heart, there is no excuse for war, the winner is the king and the loser, the strong will be respected.There is no shortage of traitors and lackeys at any time. I don’t know how many national treasures have been displaced and become the proud spoils of the invaders.

"As far as I know, major auction houses compete fiercely for high-quality porcelain. For example, Christie's and Sotheby's have fixed offices in Tokyo, and China's Poly, Guardian, and Kuangshi have also been collecting for many years."

"Generally speaking, the older generation of antique merchants who own high-quality porcelain will first choose Christie's and Sotheby's, because they have maintained a stable cooperative relationship decades ago. The reputation of international leaders is indeed very high, and the investment in publicity and operation is large. From the early packaging publicity to Completed the entire auction with great care and pursuit of details, so a habit and trust have already been formed.”

"For example, Linyu Shanren, a well-known collector, will definitely choose Christie's. In September 2015, Christie's launched a special sale of Linyu Shanren porcelain in New York. 9% of the sales were sold, and the effect was very good."

"And at Sotheby's in 2015, the collector who sent the Southern Song Dynasty official kiln celadon vase with octagonal string pattern for auction had cerebral hemorrhage, and his descendants didn't like antiques, so he chose to dispose of them. At the same time, he sent many Longquan boutiques, even There is also an official kiln. The reason for choosing Sotheby’s is very simple, just to see the degree of investment.”

"Young antique dealers who have risen in the past 30 to [-] years will also consider sending their goods to Poly and Guardian after seeing the rise of Huaxia Auction House. For them, the threshold for international leaders is too high, the demand is limited, and the screening is very strict. .”

"Moreover, a 60-year collection certificate is required, and it is very difficult to bid. The Huaxia Auction House has a large volume, and there is no particularly high threshold. It will take care of high, medium and low-end items. The most important thing is that no certificate is required."

(End of this chapter)