Chapter 6, Ups and Downs

Is it Yangcheng? I will take a bus there tomorrow, and I hope Brother Hu can take me along

"I was just too late; if I don't pay, this item will be taken away by someone else," he explained

Certainly, some people also refer to agate as chalcedony

"Go ahead and contact your liaison! We will conduct the assessment later. However, you will need to bear the associated costs." Hu Yang clarified these matters to avoid incurring unnecessary expenses later on

A single remark caused Hua Zai to fall into a cold pool, and the disappointment on his face was very evident

Such items serve as symbols of identity, and the material used for the hook, the level of craftsmanship, the design and decoration, as well as the size, are all criteria for assessing the value of the hook.

Further identification is certainly not a problem; you can find an appraiser. However, I did not say it would sell for one hundred thousand or eight hundred thousand; I merely mentioned that someone is interested.

Ordinary white agate is not very valuable, and one can purchase a bracelet for just a few hundred yuan. However, lychee jade cannot be compared to that; a small piece can easily cost tens of thousands of yuan.

Hua Zai shook his head, but it must be some kind of mythical beast from ancient mythology

In fact, he has already asked a friend for help, and he is here today because it is on the way. He heard that there is an antique market here, so he came in to take a look

Upon hearing this, Hua Zai turned his head and searched for a week, yet he truly could not find that person, and his expression immediately turned sour

Oh my! This luck is unparalleled. If the vendor knows, they would probably cry

Do you know what this is called? Hu Yang asked him

Alright, shall we leave now? Hu Yang felt that they had browsed enough and did not linger any longer

"No problem! But be careful." Hu Yang handed over the rouge box

There will always be those who take pleasure in the misfortunes of others. Upon hearing this, some viewers in the live broadcast, who cannot stand to see others do well, began to make sarcastic remarks

"Is it jade?" Huazai asked, his eyes fixed on the Ping'an pendant.

There are many varieties of agate, and among them, the more precious ones include red agate. The finest type of white agate is known as lychee frozen, while the rarest and most expensive is water belly agate, which is quite uncommon and will not be discussed further. This peace buckle is made of lychee frozen, which is a type of white agate.

Hu Yang shook his head: "This is not gilding; gilding is the process of combining gold and mercury to create a gold-mercury amalgam, which is then applied to the surface of copper objects. The object is subsequently heated to evaporate the mercury, leaving the gold adhered to the surface without peeling off. This technique began during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, matured during the Han Dynasty, and was refined during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, where gilding techniques were further perfected and widely applied in the decoration of palaces, temples, pagodas, and Buddhist statues. The Song Dynasty saw even greater mastery of this art, which was also transmitted to Japan. It continued to be commonly used after the Ming and Qing Dynasties."

Not long after, Hu Yang was still observing other items when he noticed Hua Zai approaching him with an object in hand

After speaking, Hu Yang scraped off a small portion with his fingernail

The audience in the live broadcast room exclaimed that this world is so dangerous. It seems that Hua Zai has fallen into a trap, and the stall owner deliberately found someone to help dig a pit, right? Unfortunately, there is no evidence, and you cannot do anything to the stall owner, which is the most frustrating part.

Upon seeing this, everyone understands immediately; that small pendant might be a treasure

The audience in the live broadcast room shouted 666, and looking at the host's confident demeanor, it seemed that they were not particularly pleased with just a hundred thousand or eight hundred thousand.

That is correct, that is indeed the case! As long as the appraisal is done properly, the price is negotiable

Hua Zai's mood is like a roller coaster; at this moment, there is a sense of anticipation in his heart. He takes the hook, nods slightly, and keeps it as a memento, as it is worth preserving after spending money on it. After all, looking at it can be considered as appreciating a piece of craftsmanship, and it would be a pity to throw it away

Opportunities can sometimes be very important; missing them may mean there won't be a second chance. However, they could also be traps. In the future, be more cautious and do not rush, especially in this line of work, Hu Yang said to Hua Zai

Hu Yang frowned slightly, but given the circumstances, he felt it was inappropriate to say anything further and accepted the carved piece.

Hangzhou is so far away, while Hunan is a bit closer, just two hours by high-speed train

As Hua Zai turned around, a voice came from behind Hu Yang: "Is this Hongxian porcelain? May I take a look?"

As they watched someone take the first bite of crab and followed the host to wealth, many people could no longer sit still

Oh! Where did this come from? Can the vendor allow you to leave the stall? Hu Yang was slightly taken aback

He has a sense of intuition; if he misses this item, he is likely to regret it. Moreover, the price is not particularly high, at six hundred and fifty yuan, so he quickly pays to avoid having it snatched away by the covetous individual nearby

Hu Yang looked at Wang Kuan, who nodded in acknowledgment, indicating that there was no problem

Wang Kuan is indeed engaged in business. In recent years, due to the booming real estate market, those in the building materials industry have also made a significant profit. However, this requires securing materials for large projects.

Typically, agate features bands and stripes of various colors, with a texture resembling that of crystal. It is delicate and free of impurities, exhibiting a glass-like luster, and presents a transparent or semi-transparent layered structure. The layers overlap with one another, displaying a variety of patterns such as ripples, concentric circles, mottled designs, and stratified textures

Hu Yang pulled down a small pendant hanging below the hook and handed the hook to Hua Zai: "Keep it as a memento! Be careful not to whip yourself in the future"

Just as he got his hands on it, Wang Kuan began to feel awkward again, because even after looking at it, it was of no use to him. He was not an expert, could not make an appraisal, and did not know the authenticity, so looking at it was no different from not looking at it at all

I did not expect to hear the news about Hong Xianzi so soon after arriving

The gilded words cannot be scraped off. This type of paint should only exist in modern times. It appears exquisite, but in reality, it holds little value

The shape of the Ping An Kuo resembles that of ancient copper coins, which are said to ward off evil and ensure safety. However, wearing copper coins is not very aesthetically pleasing, so the Ping An Kuo emerged in jade artifacts, being both beautiful and carrying a positive meaning

Huyang looked at Huazai and asked, "Shall we go together?"

However, the coating on this item is not gilded, but rather a type of paint

Hua Zai is a bit moved, gaining more experience is also good: "Is it convenient?"

Upon hearing that it is an ancient object, Hua Zai felt a bit excited: "Is it valuable?"

Seeing his awkward expression, Hu Yang smiled again and said, "However, you are quite lucky, it was a fortunate mistake."

When will Hu Ge come to Hangzhou to have fun? We also have quite a few antique markets here, so take us along to make some money!

His friend is not an appraiser, but is familiar with this field and knows some people, so there may not necessarily be any fees involved. He has given antiques as gifts more than once or twice before; can't he help with the appraisal?

The payment has already been made

Huyang was quite surprised, buying it without even asking first

Hu Yang turned his head to take a look; it was a middle-aged man dressed in a white shirt, who appeared to be the boss. His face was glowing with health, and he was carrying a bag in his hand

With the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, and the feet of a qilin, resembling a lion, this is the Pixiu, a fierce auspicious beast recorded in ancient Chinese texts and folk mythology.

The primary reason is the destruction caused by wars throughout the ages, coupled with the presence of gold components in the artifacts. Many tomb raiders, unaware of the artistic value of gilded items, sold them based on weight to goldsmiths, who melted them down into gold bars or ingots. As a result, countless gilded artifacts have been irreparably damaged

"I believe many people can recognize this object; it is a Ping An Kuo," Hu Yang said while holding the small pendant.

That would be best, please

The white agate of the lychee jelly, combined with the intricate carvings on this peace buckle, is likely worth around 10,000 to 20,000. It is difficult to specify the exact price. However, if you are not short on funds, I would suggest keeping it for yourself

There is no place to cry and * picture * book

In recent months, he has placed great importance on the bidding for construction materials for a project at a construction site; however, there are numerous competitors, making it challenging to secure the contract smoothly

Hua Zai carefully took the Piñan Kuo, treasured it, and could not hide the joy on his face

... ...

The lychee jelly is transparent, yet凝, with an excellent icy texture. It presents a semi-transparent and very delicate jelly-like appearance, clear enough to reveal fine lines. Upon closer inspection, one might notice textures resembling shredded radish, but they should not be too coarse, as this would affect the overall quality.

"It looks quite good. Can it be further authenticated? If it is indeed Hongxuan porcelain, then a price of 100,000 or 80,000 is not a problem," he asked.

People use hooks not only for daily needs but also as a symbol of status and identity. In particular, the hooks used by royalty, nobility, and social elites are exceptionally exquisite, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship and artistic value

However, considering the situation just now, it is only natural for the host to be cautious after incurring a loss. After all, it is not just a matter of a few dollars; the price difference can easily amount to tens of thousands, which makes them feel quite pained.

Hua Zai is eager to continue searching; previously, he found two items, one ancient jade and one bronze, both of which were rejected by Hu Yang

As soon as these words were spoken, not only was Hua Zai taken aback, but the audience in the live broadcast room was also left in a state of confusion

The appraisal fee is not a significant concern; it is important to note that securing the supply of building materials for that project could yield him several tens of millions. Wang Kuan obtained Hu Yang's consent and began to contact his friend.

At this moment, Wang Kuan spoke up: "Let's take my car over in a bit! My friend is not very far away."

Isn't it said that modern crafts are worthless? Yet someone set a trap for me, and this is called good luck?

Hu Yang continued to follow Hua Zai, and today’s gains were considerable, so the subsequent activities were more casual, lacking a strong sense of purpose

"Do not rush in the future, take a moment to look back and see if you can find the person who wanted to snatch something from you before," Hu Yang said

The term 'Four Incompletes' that we often hear refers to this. This item should be a hook, a fastening device used by ancient nobles and literati warriors to secure their belts, serving a function similar to that of modern belt buckles. It is mostly made of metal, but there are also versions made of jade.

He inquired for several days before discovering that the person in charge has a fondness for collecting porcelain, especially Hongxuan porcelain, which is why he came out to search

However, before they could speak, someone provided the answer

Huyang did not respond and continued, "Let's take a look at the materials! They are a bit heavy and made of alloy"

Hooks began to gain popularity during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, with many examples unearthed and passed down through generations, thus they are not considered rare artifacts

That works too

However, there are indeed differences; chalcedony is a common variety of jade in nature, with its main component being SiO2, while the primary component of agate is silicon dioxide

Hua Zai smiled awkwardly, explaining that the situation earlier was special, and that he had already purchased the item, which made him feel somewhat uneasy

No, this is agate. Such translucent agate is of relatively high quality, hence it is worth some money

What does it mean

Upon hearing this, the people in the live broadcast room could only feel envy, jealousy, and hatred! A few hundred yuan, and it can be flipped for over ten thousand yuan.

Some viewers in the live broadcast room are questioning whether it is really that valuable

Ancient feng shui scholars believed that the Pixiu is a auspicious beast that transforms misfortune into good fortune. Throughout history, from emperors to common people, there has been a strong emphasis on collecting and wearing Pixiu. It is said that besides its effects of enhancing luck and warding off evil, Pixiu also serves to protect the home, counteract the effects of the Tai Sui, and promote romantic relationships.

The vendor just said it was gilded, said Hua Zai

However, gilded artifacts have become exceedingly rare in contemporary times

The gilding technology culture in China has shone brightly since the Warring States period, particularly flourishing during the Han dynasty. The production method involves melting a mixture of gold and silver, applying it to the surface of bronze objects, and then fixing it through heating. Afterward, it is polished to achieve a luxurious and brilliant finish that remains vibrant over time