"Xiao Shen, how much do you know about Xuanlu's wind-milled copper?"
Shen Yu shook his head, "Mr. Wang, to be honest, until now, no one can say with certainty what kind of metal wind-milled copper is.
“In the current collecting and research circles, the mainstream analytical view is that wind-milled copper should be an alloy.
"After much research and thinking, the younger generation also holds the same opinion.
"However, even if it is determined to be an alloy, there are still many different opinions and controversies.
“There is a theory that wind-milled copper comes from tribute from overseas, and another view is that it was accidentally obtained through a special refining process.
"In ancient books, there is a completely different statement, which can also be used as a reference.
"Song Yingxing of the Ming Dynasty clearly wrote in Chapter 9 of "Tiangong Kaiwu" on Smelting and Casting: "Due to a fire in a certain warehouse, the gold and silver mixed with copper and tin turned into a ball. The emperor ordered to Casting furnace.' From this brief description, we seem to be able to get a glimpse of the accident and natural selection of the birth of wind-milled copper.
"Coincidentally, Maoxiang, one of the four princes in the late Ming Dynasty, also mentioned: 'When Xuanzong was in power, a fire broke out in the Buddhist temple, gold, silver, jewelry and copper melted and condensed together. Xuanzong just ordered the Ministry of Industry to cast the Xuande furnace.'
"Based on the records in these ancient books, it is speculated that this wind-milled copper is most likely made of copper, silver, gold and some other materials that are still unknown. Perhaps it is because its formation process is so special and its ingredients are complex. , and finally got the unique name of Fengmo Copper."
Mr. Wang nodded thoughtfully, with a hint of recognition in his eyes. At the same time, he raised his hand to indicate that Shen Yu could continue his appraisal.
But at this time, Shen Yu's mind had quietly drifted away from Xuan Lu.
His mind was completely occupied by the two chicken cups in the case, and he only wanted to take a closer look at whether the other chicken cup was genuine or fake.
His state of mind was not due to his desire to keep the two chicken cups as his own.
To be precise, it was the strange feeling that after having identified thousands of chicken cups, it was difficult to find the real thing, but now the real thing might be right under my nose.
This feeling is like that of an explorer who has been searching for many years on a vast adventure and suddenly discovers a legendary treasure inadvertently. There is an uncontrollable excitement and curiosity deep in his heart, and he is eager to find it. Find out.
At this time, Shen Yu turned slightly sideways and quietly glanced at Ximen Hou with his peripheral vision.
As for Ximen Hou, his eyes were wandering around the room casually, and he looked over here inadvertently.
In an instant, their eyes met.
Shen Yu was quick to think, and he smiled calmly at Ximen Hou and extended an invitation, "Senior Ximen, you are very senior and experienced in the collection industry. Why don't you come and appreciate Mr. Wang's copper furnace together? Maybe you can have a unique insight. and discovery, so that the younger generation can learn from it."
After Ximen Hou heard this, he waved his hands hurriedly, with a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, "Xiao Shen, please don't praise me. I am really not proficient in the appraisal of Xuanlu, I only have a superficial understanding of it. , how dare you try your best to show off your skills in front of you, a young, promising and talented treasure appraiser? It’s better not to show off one’s ugliness, well, it’s better not to show one’s ugliness anymore.”
Although his tone was humble, his eyes revealed a subtle hint of vigilance and alienation.
Shen Yu understood what Ximen Hou was thinking, but he continued to press forward, "Senior, you are too humble. Everyone knows that your antique store is one of the best in Hong Kong. I must have sold many high-quality xuanlu. I am very Hope to get your advice."
When Shen Yu said this, Marquis Ximen became even more vigilant.
He thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that Shen Yu was passing the blame.
It must be that he couldn't tell whether it was true or false, so he let himself take advantage of it. How could he be fooled?
"Oh, Xiao Shen, what you said makes me ashamed. Although my antique shop is small and famous, most of them are ordinary antiques. There are only two or three Xuan furnaces, and they are all imitations of the Qing Dynasty. To be honest, I am really powerless in appraising Xuanlu!"
When Shen Yu saw that Marquis Ximen refused so resolutely, he pretended to be a little disappointed and sighed, "Since the senior is so humble, it is inconvenient for the junior to force it."
He turned around and faced the copper stove again. It seemed that he continued to focus on the study of the copper stove, but in fact he was quietly thinking about how to carefully examine the remaining chicken cup again.
In fact, Marquis Ximen also caught a glimpse of the two chicken cups under the table.
When he returned from packing up his antiques yesterday, he never thought of taking the two cups back to the store.
In his eyes, this so-called chicken bowl cup is too ordinary.
He didn't even get started when Ximenting brought it back.
It's very simple. There are as many as two to three hundred cups like this in the store. Every once in a while, some people will come to the store to sell the so-called official kiln "Ming Chenghua Doucai Chicken Crock Cup". However, there are Counting each one, none of them can be compared to the authentic ones from the official kiln.
As far as the current situation is concerned, there may not be more than ten authentic official kiln chicken cups in the world. If you believe that such ubiquitous cups are made by official kilns, you might as well believe that he has transformed himself. Becoming a treasure appraiser is more reliable.
Thinking of this, Lord Ximen's eyes slowly moved to Shen Yu, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.
Speaking of which, he didn't have any obvious dislike for Shen Yu.
It's just that Gu Zhengyan and Wang Lao, who are very influential people in Hong Kong Island, value Shen Yu very much. Gu Zhengtang even directly hired him as the chief stone gambling consultant of Gu's Jewelry. It is inevitable that he will feel a little unhappy. Solution and confusion.
Savoring it carefully, there is actually a hint of unspeakable "jealousy" in it.
I recall that before, he, Marquis Ximen, was a frequent visitor to the houses of these important people. He was a highly regarded treasure appraiser in the eyes of everyone.
Every time you come, you will receive warm hospitality and respectful courtesy.
But now, Shen Yu's appearance has broken this seemingly stable position.
Therefore, at this moment, Ximen Hou had a different kind of expectation in his heart, hoping that Shen Yu would make some mistakes in the process of appraising this copper furnace.
If this is true, then firstly, it can alleviate the sour jealousy deep in his heart and let him regain some of his former sense of superiority. Secondly, it can also put him in a more advantageous position when selling antiques to Gu Zhengyan later. .
In the opinion of Marquis Ximen, it was extremely unwise for Shen Yu to appraise the Xuan furnace for Mr. Wang.
There has never been a real Xuan furnace in the collecting world today, and all experience in identifying Xuan furnaces is only based on theory and lacks strong support from physical evidence.
In other words, no one will be able to do it right.